Reviews

Most Inspirational Moment

There were quite a few, but a clear highlight was walking through the sun lit Sun Gate then witnessing the majestic Machu Picchu hovering in the distance. After a hard few hours trekking on the Inca Trail, words fail to describe what it was like seeing it for the first time as you end up looking at it in stunned silence. No one was really talking, they were just looking at Machu Picchu, taking pictures but mostly just sitting trying to take it all in. Walking around Machu Picchu, seeing the scale of the construction throughout the valley and other Inca sites along the trail and around Cusco with its history, really helped put it in context. Kayaking through the mangroves to then have a friendly sea lion pop up, playfully swim around the boat - just as interested in me as I was of him. Being eyeball to "bright blue" eyeball with a flightless cormorant whilst on the rib, up close to Galapagos penguins on land and in the sea and snorkelling with thousands of fish, gigantic turtles and dragon-like marine iguanas - happily munching on seaweed under water.

Thoughts on Group Leader

In Peru we had Will, who was friendly, enthusiastic and keen to help us sample Peru in the short time we had there. We were only a small group of 5 people, it made for a great dynamic and fun time. In Machu Picchu, we had Tina as our guide on the Inca Trail and around the site itself for the second day. She was great fun, vast knowledge of Peru, wildlife and the history of Machu Picchu. In Ecuador, we had Raul who taught us the history of Ecuador and showed us the delights of the old town in Quito - highlight was the Basilica with its epic stained glass and views across the city. In the Galapagos our naturalist guide was Juan, extremely knowledgeable, enthusiastic, well organized and a please to talk too. He also does a good turn with the guitar! As always the guides were fantastic and really helped us understand their countries, helping us "experience" rather than just feel we were "just visiting".

Advice for Potential Travellers

When booking , ask to do the one day Inca Trail. It was a tough walk but seeing Winay Wayna on the way to Machu Picchu was great and physically experiencing the landscape really enforces the emotion you will feel seeing Machu Picchu for the first time. If you can do it, don't miss out! In September, if you want to snorkel, try to take your own mask for a good fit and basic wetsuit gloves and rash vest if suffer from cold. We did have wetsuits from the boat. Take ear plugs as the boat is not exactly quiet when chugging along (especially at night).

Suggestions

We had high expectations for this trip based on previous reviews and because of where we were going. The trip exceeded these in many ways including some that we did not expect. So many fantastic memories made.

Most Inspirational Moment

Can't say there is just one - both Machu Picchu and the Galapagos wildlife are awesome.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Smithy in Peru and Juan in the Galapagos were brilliant.

Advice for Potential Travellers

We went in September when the water was a bit cold - we wore wetsuits but If you suffer from cold fingers/toes, take some wetsuit-type gloves or socks (if there are such things).

Suggestions

Hotel in Cuzco could have been slightly more luxurious.

Most Inspirational Moment

Really can't decide. It was all amazing! That iconic view of Machu Picchu; the scenery; the wildlife in the Galapagos.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Adolfo Salazar in Peru and Berny Jacome on the Cachalote Explorer were THE BEST!

Advice for Potential Travellers

Read all the trip notes; they are excellent. Take good waterproof jacket for Peru/Machu Picchu and a pac-a-mac type for Galapagos. You may well not need it in Galapagos and you won't want to carry anything bulky. The ATMs in Galapagos were few and far between and only gave out relatively small amounts. Try to make sure you have enough currency to cover everything before you get to Galapagos as the credit card machine on the ship may not work!

Suggestions

We would go back in a heartbeat. If time and money had been no object, we would have done the two itineraries in the Galapagos, back to back.

Most Inspirational Moment

I particularly enjoyed our trip through the Mangrove with turtles and penguins and taking photos at every opportunity.

Thoughts on Group Leader

We had two group leaders who were exellent : Adolfo Salazaq who looked after us in Peru. He was always cheerful and through his contacts, always got us where we needed to be. He joined us to meals and answered our questions well. We liked him very much. Berny Jacome in Galapagos was superb. He was extremely knowledgeable and very pleasant and confident in his job. His skills as a guide were impressive in someone so young. I would highly recommend you use him wherever possible.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Go!

Most Inspirational Moment

Impossible to say, there are too many, but our first glimpse of Machu Picchu, indescribable in its beauty, size and location surrounded by stunning mountains and deep valleys would be one. Isla Genovesa, with its frigate birds, boobies, short-eared owls and huge density of birds and other wildlife would be another, together with. swimming in various locations with turtles, sea lions and stunning fish. including three hammerhead sharks (optional!). Mention must also be made of the waved albatross on Espanola courting, sitting on nests or flying along the cliffs, amazing..

Thoughts on Group Leader

We had three, in Peru, Quito and the Galapagos. All did an excellent job. Wilmer was warm, welcoming, enthusiatic and helpful as well as patient. Gloria in Quito again welcomed us warmly, was very knowledgable on the excellent tour and terrific in helping when one of our party injured themselves. Similarly David in the Galapagos gave us a terrific tour. He is both very knowledgable and passionate about the islands and their unique wildlife. He ran efficiently to time without ever rushing us and worked well with the captain and crew of the Cahalote. When snorkelling, with the help of the Panga drivers, he guided us well and ensured our safety. Because we were with David for a week on the boat he wins the prize but we cannot find fault in any of our guides.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Don't be surpised by the altitude in Cusco. Just take things slowly. If you don't do the one day Inca trail walk and the weather is O.K., go up to Macchu Picchu that afternoon. Expensive but well worth it. It is quieter in the afternoon and it then gives you two sessions to enjoy this astonishing place at your own pace. The morning tour is excellent but only covers a small area. If you snorkel in a swimming costume (i.e. not wet suit) be sure to wear a tee shirt - I didn't the first day, big mistake! Mastercard works at ATM's almost always, debit and visa cards often don't, especially in the Galapagos. Preferably make sure you have plenty of dlooars for tips, drinks and small souvenirs, cards etc. before you leave Quito or even better, Peru.

Suggestions

If you can, go. This tour is all you could hope for and more and the advantage of being a small group, even on the boat, massive.

Most Inspirational Moment

Viewing Machu Pichu from the Sun Gate. Swimming with turtles off Floriana. Getting so close to the wildlife on Genovesa. The peace and serenity of a canoe ride at Napo, with only the tropical noises to listen to.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Pack light! Reasonable toiletries provided in all hotels. There is very limited space in the Cachalote cabins (even less so for two single people sharing) so a small squashy bag is much better than a suitcase, Eco-friendly soap and shampoo are provided on board as are towels for use on the beach as well as on board. Take two items of footwear only for Galapagos - a pair of hiking boots for walks on the islands and a pair of sandals for beach or wet landings as we went either barefoot or wore socks on board. Take strong insect repellant for Napo if you are prone to bites (not really needed in the Galapagos though Espanola Island has a lot of very annoying flies which take no notice of any repellants!). Take Magicool and a loose hat if you are going to Napo - we had no rain during the day but it was very humid and hot. Wellingtons are provided by the lodge and they like you to wear these on all land trips, not your own hiking boots (which we took but didn't use so wasted space in the bag!). A pair of light sandals or trainers are ideal for wearing around the lodge or any of the trips where you stay in the canoe.

Suggestions

All in all a superb experience and I would thoroughly recommend.

Most Inspirational Moment

So many, almost impossible to say. One would have to be the very fist site of Machu Picchu, quite extraordinary, awe inspiring and no photo can do it justice. Despite this Galapagos was the highlight and the most inspirational moments probably the number and proximity of the birds on Genevosa, the Waved Albatrosses on Espanola and snorkelling with giant turtles, sea lions and the stunning fish.

Most Inspirational Moment

The day trek along the Inca Trail from Km 104 to Machu Picchu was challenging but absolutely wonderful. Arriving at the Sun Gate and looking down on Machu Picchu as the crowds were leaving at the end of the day was one of the highlights in an altogether fantastic holiday.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Wilmer in Peru, Gloria in Ecuador and David in the Galapagos Islands were all knowledgable, professional and helpful. Both Gloria and David went out of their way to look after an injured member of our party, and David in particular went to a lot of trouble to ensure she was able to enjoy as many of the excursions as possible.

Advice for Potential Travellers

This is a purely personal observation, but not being able to flush toilet paper on the boat, and having to put it into a bin with no lid was enough to stop up my metabolism for the week! The bin was only emptied once a day as well! The provision of bio-degradable nappy sacks for used toilet paper would have been more hygenic.

Suggestions

One of our party really struggled with the ascent on our Inca trail trek, slowing down the group to the extent that we only just made the time at Winay Wayna. Highlighting the difficulty of the walk when people book would give people chance to prepare or opt out.

Most Inspirational Moment

There were two inspirational moments. The first was the moment on the Inca Trail when we walked through the Sun Gate and a truly splendid, totally unexpected, panoramic view of Machu Picchu came into sight for the first time. The second was watching a newly hatched turtle make its precarious way towards the sea in daylight with a Magnificent Frigate bird only a hundred metres away. Our group broke into spontaneous applause as it entered the sea while the bird missed out on an easy meal.

Thoughts on Group Leader

The Peruvian group leader was friendly, always available to impart his extensive knowledge of Inca culture and architecture, and was keen and unhurried in accompanying just three of us on the day walk up to the inca trail and the Sun Gate. The Galapagos group leader/naturalist was extremely enthusiastic and his knowledge of the wildlife and the geology of the islands was highly impressive. All day and every day he filled our time with walks and snorkeling to see every aspect of life on the islands and surrounding coastlines and at the end of the holiday copied all of his own videos and photos to each of the Group's memory sticks. This Group Leader was superb.

Advice for Potential Travellers

1. Take a spare memory stick for the Galapagos if there is any chance that your group leader is as good as the one we had. 2. Only pack essential things into one bag for the yacht around the Galapagos. Leave the rest on mainland Ecuador. 3. If you are reasonably fit then you must do the optional day walk up to the Inca trail and the Sun Gate for maximum impact on seeing Machu Picchu for the first time.

Suggestions

The only nit pick we had was to do with the flight itineraries from the Galapagos back to the UK. Exodus needs to come up with a better flight plan of Galapagos-Guayaquil-night in Quito-Guayaquil-Madrid-UK. That mid section adds more than a day to the time taken to get back to the UK and for no extra gain to the value of the holiday.

Most Inspirational Moment

The Galapogos trip was outstanding. I was impressed with how well coordinated the visitor tours were. We rarely saw other groups and the impact upon the wildlife seemed minimal.

Thoughts on Group Leader

We had two group leaders. Cesar in Peru and William Lucinu in Galapogos. They were both outstanding . Their knowledge was amazing and they were very enthusiastic. Gloria in Quito was also terrific. I would highly recommend all of them.

Advice for Potential Travellers

I would encourage the use of hiking poles with covered tips. We hiked over challenging terrain at times. On the trip to Sierra Negra volcano in Galapogos the path was very muddy , steep and slippery. It was raining. One of the women in our group slipped and fell and broke her arm. She had to be evacuated to Santa Cruz and could not continue on our trip. It was devastating for her and was a very preventable injury.

Suggestions

This is a trip worth saving up for. Exodus provided excellent service choosing charming hotels, seamless transfers to and from airports, outstanding guides and the best boat for seeing the Galapogos Islands. I am looking forward to the next trip with Exodus. We are Canadians. I found out about this company through my sister who lives in the UK. She went to Sri Lanka and Thiland with Exodus and really enjoyed both these trips.