passenger reviews of northern peru, Amazonia … & beyond
The below testimonials are from PeruNorth’s clients prior to the travel hiatus instigated by the COVID pandemic that began in early 2020.
To see the most recent feedback, please click here.
“I worked in the travel industry for over 30 years. It was my intention to do the majority of this trip on my own. The exception was the Amazon.
When I sent out some inquiries, a gentleman by the name of Miles Buesst, PeruNorth, responded.
Long story short, Miles was so exceptional in his responses and suggestions that I ended up having him do the entire trip for us. And I can honestly say this was the smartest thing we did!
We had a moderate budget and he made it work. He booked good hotels in great locations. He brought things to our attention that I would have missed.
He is the perfect example why you work with a travel professional. Job well done!”
Donald & Mary Lou Liepold
Cumberland, WI
NB. To read their full tour diary, click here.
“We very much enjoyed the Delfin III cruise, the sites, the excursions, and the people we met … very knowledgeable guides, itineraries you could opt in or out of (we chose nearly all) and lovely food
… it was really quite a wonderful boat and we loved our floor-to-ceiling windows.
… We loved this trip because it was exciting and relaxing at the same time, great views from all over the boat of vastness of the Amazon, and to be sure it was an unforgettable adventure.”
Michelle Leighton & Rodger Dillon
Geneva, Switzerland
NB. To read their full testimonial, click here.
“Thank you for another brilliantly organised trip [to Cartagena & nearby beach resort of Baru in Colombia] that once again exceeded all our expectations.”
Elana Dallas & Alastair Hatchett
Drayton Park, UK
NB. To read their full testimonial, click here.
“We had a great time at the Muyuna Lodge, everyone had fun and saw a bunch of wildlife!
Thanks for your great service”
Patrick Fredette & Family
Montreal, Canada
“Our trip to Peru was great we enjoyed both of the stays and both of the places, Tarapoto and Cocachimba …”
Jaime Velasquez & Monique Olde-Heuvel
Luxembourg
NB. To read their full testimonial, click here.
“I absolutely loved the lodge [Grand Amazon]. Our guide Lucho is honestly the nicest guy we’ve ever met. We loved him!
The food was great, and the staff was fantastic … I thought it was a great experience!
I’d highly recommend this lodge! Thanks.”
Mariam & Sharjeen Butt
Canada
“We absolutely loved both of the trips we took while we were in Tarapoto [Laguna Azul de Sauce & Rio Mayo Rafting].
Thank you so much for all of your work in getting those set up for us. It made our short stay there simple and fun!
Attached is a picture of us tubing on the Blue Lagoon. So much fun!!”
Erin Scionti & Morgan Linder
USA
“We only stayed at Gocta Lodge [on Kuelap & Gocta 6-Day itinerary] and it was fantastic.
The food was very good and the service was outstanding.”
Michael Naylor & Angelica Choy
Hampton, UK
NB. To read their full testimonial, click here
“We normally tend to book entire trips ourselves, however when it came to booking our trip to Peru, we're so glad we came across PeruNorth.
We booked a six week trip to Peru with Miles helping massively with our itinerary and booking of our Amazon lodges [Muyuna & Tambopata Research Center], he managed to get us much better rates than we could find anywhere else and he advised us which lodges suited our interests best.
I sent Miles over our dates and what I had put together so far in terms of an itinerary and with his knowledge and experience, he was able to rearrange it so that we got maximum time at the most interesting places and wasted very little.
We're so grateful to Miles for making our trip to Peru the best we've ever been on …
… We were both so sad to see our time in Peru come to an end as it was almost definitely our greatest adventure to date.
Once again we must say a huge thank you to Miles for making this a reality!”
Jordan Fry & Annabelle Burt
Reading, Berks.
NB. To read their full testimonial, click here.
“Greetings from Rangra Wasi [hotel in Leymebamba]. Just letting you know that everything is fantastic, especially our guide: Julio [Porras]. He’s amazing.
We’ve had a lot of guides around the world in similar set-ups, and he is by far one of the very best ever. Thanks a lot.”
Deborah & Jeffrey Ostreicher
Phoenix, AZ
“Overall my travels in Peru were amazing, I loved everyday in this beautiful country and with its friendly people.
I enjoyed the north a lot for it is less traveled and crowded, less touristy and more authentic than the classical destinations in the South, but just as impressive and beautiful!
On this happy note: thank you very much for all your efforts in organizing my trip to the north! It was lovely!”
Melanie H
Hamburg, Germany
NB. To read her full testimonial, click here.
“Hi Miles,
Thank you so much for this excellent part we had in Peru. Everything worked according plans. Along the tour we always felt secured and welcomed with our hosts and guides.
The Amazonas part was amazing. We were surprised that only 3 guests were booked for it (out of 13), but it went very well. We had good communication with the other 2 couples and we enjoyed almost a private tour on a beautiful boat.
The staff was amazing. 16 crew members and even the owner were just for us 24 hours a day. Really I have no words to describe the crews' level of excellence and service orientation.
Oswaldo, our guide, was amazing.
As for Cusco part, everything worked according plans.
The first 2 days (Machu Picchu) were just great, also the accommodation [Pakaritampu Hotel].
The last day (Scared Valley - from Ollantaytambo to Cusco) was somewhat "tired" and short. We hoped to get more content and experience for this day, but still it was ok. Probably I had to learn more in order to plan this better.
Anyway, the bottom line is VERY GOOD. I really glad we found you and we'll be very glad to recommend on you to our friends. THANKS A LOT.”
Sam & Sarit Goffer
Hod HaSharon, Israel
“Laguna de los Condores was one of the highlights of our trip and we are very happy that we decided to do it.
Thank you very much for your assistance and we can definitely recommend this destination!”
Melanie Achermann & Romain de Luze
Bern, Switzerland
NB. To read their full testimonial, click here.
“We booked our visit in July 2019 to Cajamarca and Chachapoyas with PeruNorth. We flew from Lima to Cajamarca, where we were picked up to go to our hotel …
We liked the alternation between culture and nature, have always eaten well, the organization was fine and the guides pleasant.”
Thomas Van De Putte & Sofie Dieleman
Gentbrugge, Belgium
NB. To read their full testimonial, click here.
“Just wanted to let you know that Emily and I very much enjoyed our Moche Tour [Trujillo - Chiclayo]. We appreciate your assistance in putting it together, and loved the guide and hotels you picked out for us.”
“We had a fantastic time rafting! It was so fun. We loved the stop at the beach and trying the snake-alcohol.
Thanks again for the memorable adventure!”
Madison, Mariah & Savannah Giesbrecht
Barry’s Bay, OT
“The trip [Gran Vilaya 4D Trek] was great. I appreciated a lot Ronal’s expertise and friendliness as well how he handled unforeseen issues. He is a great guide.
I’d definitely recommend the trip further.”
Dan Mihailescu & Family
Rixheim, France
“We had already visited the Amazon jungle downstream of Iquitos and wanted to experience the rainforest in and around Pacaya-Samiria Reserve. On Miles’ recommendation, we spent 3 days at Pacaya Samiria Lodge and we are really glad we did.
We saw so much during the excursions, and the guide [Josias Tello] really knew about the flora and fauna … and was able to keep it interesting for my 8-year-old son.
Enjoyed every minute, even when I was bitten by a piranha during a fishing trip!’
Julian & Andrew Walter
Lima, Peru
“Hello Miles,
Mike and I had a truly wonderful trip round northern Peru. The archaeology was astounding - comparable in antiquity and richness of treasures to that of ancient Egypt.
We are grateful to PeruNorth for delivering an itinerary which covered everything we asked for, plus a bit more.”
Sheila & Mike Frazer
London, UK
To read their full testimonial and see some images, click here.
“Hello Miles,
We're back, and our trip [Kuelap & Gocta 5D] went well … thanks for putting together a nice tour package for a very unique part of the world.”
Steve & Ruina Senkovich
Smithfield, VA
NB. You can read their TripAdvisor review here (#8).
“We had a fabulous time - this was my 3rd trip to Peru and Tim’s umpteenth! It was so nice to have the itinerary all mapped out and followed exactly, hassle free!
I think when comparing our northern Peru adventure to the usual Cuzco / Machu-Picchu trip, the #1 thing was lack of crowds.”
Andrea & Tim O’Donnell
San Pedro, CA
To read Andrea’s full testimonial and see more images, click here.
“Please rest assured that the north Peru hummingbird trip [Tarapoto - Moyobamba - Abra Patricia - Huembo] went extremely smoothly, and I have nothing but praise for the Henry the guide and Victor the driver - they were both superb in every capacity, and went above and beyond.”
Jon Dunn
Shetland, UK
“We had a wonderful trip to Peru, thank you for booking. Gocta was a huge success - we loved Gocta lodge.
Many thanks.”
Simon & Kate Eckett
Aston Clinton, Bucks
“Hello Miles,
I wanted to touch base with a couple of comments (not criticisms!) on a really splendid trip that you put together for me.
- I should have spent more time in Pumarinri – what a gorgeous place! Of course I recognize that the time constraints were mine, not yours……
- Everything at Gocta went swimmingly and I had my own personal English-speaking guide for two full days. None of the other guests spoke English.
- All transfers to and from airports etc. were seamless, and Latam managed to be more or less on time, apart from one mad dash through Lima Airport to make my connecting flight!
- And finally, Zafiro was just the right way to end the trip – an inspired choice!
All of which is by way of saying thank you for putting this all together for me. I have quite lost my heart to the Amazonas……!’
Elizabeth Harrold
Surrey, BC
To read Elizabeth’s full testimonial and see more images, click here.
“This trip [Calafate, Torres del Paine & Santiago] was a magnificent exploration into Patagonia. I can't wait to return for longer and explore more!
You, your team and your partners were amazing! Thank you so much Miles!”
Tibora Girczyc-Blum
Arcata, CA
To read Tibora’s full testimonial and see some images, click here.
“It [Spondias 5D] was a great experience!
Carlos Ricopa, our guide, met us at the airport in Iquitos, and handled the delayed arrival of part of our group well. We finally all reached Nauta near sunset, and transferred via the skiff to the Spondias - our luxurious home for the next 5 days.
The crew was friendly, very attentive and accommodating, and our guide knowledgable, amazing us again and again with his keen eye to find and point out sights.
We often went out on the skiff at 6am, before breakfast, and once stayed in the Pacaya-Samiria Reserve until dark.
The cook served us artistically-presented, delicious meals. The rooms were clean, spacious and the large bed very comfortable …
Thank you!”
Ruth Mankoff & Family
Pomona, NY & Seattle, WA
“It [Delfin III 4-day Amazon cruise] was wonderful, thank you!
The cabin and the facilities on the boat as a whole were excellent. The service was also superb (including an extremely high ratio of employees to guests).
I really enjoyed all the excursions, although ideally it would have been great if we could have squeezed in one more jungle trek. I realise, however, that given it was a 3 night itinerary, that it may have been a bit tricky to pull off.
Generally speaking the food was very good, with the best being the Peruvian dishes; I'd encourage them to do more of those (rather than e.g. a continental duck dish).
I had a lovely massage as well, which was a real treat!
I'll definitely recommend this trip to my friends, Thanks!”
Nicola Lutkins
Kensal Green, London
“We as a family had a wonderful time. The department of Amazonas (where Chachapoyas and Kuelap are located) is a very beautiful area of Peru, something that we were not aware of.
The plantations fields and "greenery" of the mountains are worth the trip. Add Kuelap and friendliness of the people is a plus.”
Luis Reynoso & Family
Cedar Park, TX
To read their full testimonial and see more images, click here.
“Overall, we had a great trip [to Chachapoyas & Tarapoto] and saw some incredible things.
We had a good mix of activities and I most enjoyed the pottery/chocolate/honey day as we got to talk with the artisans and see their passion.
I thought the staff and guides were knowledgeable (with one exception, our local guide to El Tigre could have known more about the site and area). Ron [Watger - guide] was great and we came home with great memories and lots of recommendations for friends.”
Sebastian Morley & Abigail Southam
San Isidro, Lima
To read their full testimonial and see more images, click here.
“Mary Jane and I had a great Peru trip. One of the highlights was our PeruNorth 4-day Mountain Rainforest & Amazon Dry Forest Birding trip. The time with Henry [Gonzales Pinedo - the birding guide] and Pumarinri Lodge was exceptional! And such a personalized experience!
I keep replaying memories of it in my mind and we’re already talking about our next venture to North Peru. Cusco was also nice, but we really loved every place in the north!”
Michael Rigsby & Mary Jane Kelley
Athens, OH
NB. You can read their TripAdvisor review here.
“Trip was perfect. Loved both parts of it [Ceiba Tops Lodge & La Perla 4D Amazon Cruise]. All well organized.
Food was fine. Probably on the cruise a notch better than at lodge but to be expected.
All guides and staff were exceptionally friendly and always aiming to please.
Room at lodge was good; Cabin on La Perla was great.
All organized tours by lodge and ship were informative and well planned. Never a dull moment.
Great trip! Loved it! Thanks!”
Kristina & Konrad Wagner
St. Lucia, West Indies
“Hi Miles!
The Santa Cruz trek was superb, especially as it was, in effect, a private service and I didn't have to manage all the compromises that go with group travel!!.
The weather was kind and I got lots of good photos, including from the road on the 'traverse' back with the support of guide and driver who were willing to stop on demand. Much appreciated.
The guide deserves particular commendation as he was experienced, understanding and obliging in every way. And the camping kit and logistics was all very good, enabling me to focus on the photography.
Altogether a thoroughly enjoyable and productive trip.
Many thanks again to you for kindly piecing it all together so effectively. It was a pretty intensive experience [Rio Abiseo, Manu, Cusco & Machu Picchu, & Huaraz] but all worked out as well as anyone might dare to hope for.”
Dr. Peter Howard
Keynsham, Somerset
Dr. Howard’s trip to Peru formed part of research for a Natural World Heritage website, you can see here.
“I thank you for your help regarding our trip to Peru [Cusco & Machu Picchu]. Everything has been working great ...
The guide at Machu Picchu was magnificent!”
Lars Sandheden & Family
Gothenburg, Sweden
“I loved the ballenas [whales] and had an amazing time swimming with the tortugas [turtles - in Vichayito]’
The rest of the trip [Trujillo - Chiclayo] was amazingly interesting. I really appreciated your help all along evth else was amazing. Thank you, thank you.”
Brigitte Gauthier
Mennecy, France
“Hi Miles,
Hope you had a nice holiday!
The Chachapoyas trip [Gran Vilaya Trek] was amazing! The nature there is beautiful and not yet spoiled by too much tourism. The accommodation was very basic, but we really enjoyed the home-stays and seeing how people live. We stayed at Roger’s (guide) family home right next to Kuelap - very special. He was a very kind and knowledgeable guide. Thank you so much for arranging!!!
Tambopata Research Center was incredible - really happy we went with that option. We were even lucky enough to see a Jaguar!
Such a wonderful country - culture, people, nature. I really want to thank you again for everything.”
Anoma van Eeden & Adrianus Duijnhouwer
Amsterdam, Netherlands
To read their full testimonial and see more images, click here.
“Hello Miles!
Sorry again for a tardy response, but I'm guessing you expect that from us now!
So, yes, it all went very well - both drivers were excellent, the guide at Chan Chan informative, the birding guide knowledgeable (though unfortunately not much activity that morning) and the accommodation good.
We enjoyed the food everywhere, it really has become such an amazing cuisine, and was surprised that even in the 'chain' hotels such as those in Trujillo and Cajamarca, the standard of dishes at dinner was very high, especially the soups. Lunch at Celendin that day was good too.
I think the highlight of those 3-4 days for me was the drive through the Marañon Canyon - it was way more spectacular and interesting than any of the literature lets on. The scale of it and the number of different ecozones you pass through is fascinating. It would have been good to have a walk or two whilst traversing it but as it took 5 hours simply to get one side to the other, there simply wouldn't have been time. Maybe potential for an ecolodge there!
We also thought Cajamarca was a particularly nice town, definitely one of the picks in the whole country.
Michael enjoyed the mummy museum at Leymebamba too!
We love this part of the world and as per usual are thinking about the next trip there. So, we'll definitely recommend you to anyone interested in the area, and keep an eye on your website to see what new areas / activities you might start to offer.
Thanks once again for all your help in organising and I hope tourism to this part of the world continues to sustainably increase.”
David Cregan & Michael Kyriagis
Marylebone, UK
“We had a great time in Vichayito, it was very relaxing.”
Sebastian Morley & Abigail Southam
San Isidro, Lima
"Hi Miles,
The trip [Kuelap & Gocta 6D including Yumbilla Waterfall] went very well - we really liked the Chachapoyas region and the Achamaqui Hotel was great."
Natalie & Emilie Lundquist
Odense, Denmark
"Hi Miles,
Thank you for your organization [Chachapoyas - Chiclayo - Trujillo].
I think I underestimated the distances we needed to travel to get to these sites, as on the map, it all looked a lot closer. You would think someone from the vastness of Australia should have realised! However, if we didn't do this section [Tucume - Chicama] we would never had visited the Lord of Sipan Museum which was incredible!
Chicama isn't a great place to visit, unless you are into surfing! The hotel was excellent, however, so I enjoyed relaxing on site!
... our trip from Chicama to Trujillo was really good, Carmen was a great tour guide. Our only issue was we were left at Trujillo airport early, whereas we could have spent a little more time at Huanchaco, before going to Chan Chan. Our highlight that day was the excellent site and museum at El Brujo. I am so glad that we didn't miss this off our itinerary!
Our guide at Kuelap and Gocta was also excellent - a young man whose name escapes me at the moment.
... thank you"
Leanne Webster & Frank Wallner
Kiana, NSW, Australia
"Hello Miles,
We were both very happy with the trip we had chosen [Kuelap & Gocta Express]. The help we got from you was great, we felt like it was very well organized and we knew exactly what we needed to bring and do.
We were picked up promptly from the airport by a very nice driver. Although he didn’t speak any English, he was very competent and very kind. He stopped whenever we wanted to take a picture or whenever we wanted to buy something.
The accommodation [Gocta Andes Lodge] was absolutely stunning. The staff tries to help you in any way possible. The food is delicious and the views were the best.
The excursions were very good. We had a very kind guide that showed us around and listened to our needs. The walk to the waterfall was amazing and definitely my highlight."
Lobke de la Ruelle & Jimena Delgado
Maastricht, Netherlands & Burgos, Spain
"Hi Miles,
I cannot thank you enough for your services. From start to finish, it was seamless.
The trip [to Leymebamba, Kuelap & Gocta] was beyond our wildest expectations -- truly the trip of a lifetime.
It would not have been possible without PeruNorth. We will recommend your services to anyone who is looking to head to Peru. Thank you so much."
Ella Levy & Neal Evers
Boulder, CO
To read their full testimonial and see more photos, click here.
"Hi Miles
We had the best time and really appreciated your help in booking our trip [to Chachapoyas & Vichayito]"
Irene & Marie-Anne Schamhart
Victoria, BC
To read their full testimonial, click here.
Joanna Rollo & Andrew Pitts
Leiston, Suffolk
To read their full testimonial and see more photos, click here.
"Honestly an absolutely fantastic trip [Inca Trail 4D]. Thanks so much for organising such a good experience for us both, i really can’t fault a thing. The level of service was WAY above what we were expecting, the food was incredible and every single thing was perfectly organised.
It was genuinely the most fluid trip i’ve ever had, didn’t have to do a thing. Local staff were excellent, and our guide was extremely professional.
Hope you have a fantastic Xmas and NY"
James & Paul Metcalfe
West Hampstead, London
"To Miles,
Thanks for all your help and advice for Ecuador [Quito, Baños, Puyo, Amazon Dolphin Lodge & Galapagos Islands].
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year"
Gary Schneider & Family
Poole, Dorset
"Hi Miles!
I just wanted to thank you again for setting up such a wonderful trip [Treehouse Lodge & Cusco & Machu Picchu] for us ... the trip was absolutely incredible and we are so blessed to come back with such great memories.
Oh, and we LOVED, loved, loved the Palacio del Inka [hotel in Cusco], thank you again for that upgrade.
Every single one of our guides and drivers were super friendly and made us feel at ease and very well taken care of.
"Hi Miles,
We had a great time in Tahuayo. The staff is very nice. We were there almost alone! Saw lots of wildlife.
The zip-lining was a great adrenaline experience, not for the faint at heart. From above you have a superb view over the treetops.
We liked to stay at the Research Center. It is a bit smaller and more cosy.
Greetz"
Ruth De Bruin & Frederik Weber
Heinkenszand, The Netherlands
"Miles,
At the hairdresser now before flying back this evening. It has been an amazing experience. Thank you. ❤️ Peru 🇵🇪"
Andy & Julia Little,
Nettleden, Herts.
To see the photographic account of their journey, click here.
"Hi Miles,
The rest of the trip [Cusco, Machu Picchu & Reserva Amazonica] was really awesome, but as you can probably imagine, we both thought the Chachapoyas area was one of the highlights of the trip.
Thanks for setting us up with our quick trip through northern Peru! We are already looking forward to when we can return and explore the area more!"
Kenzie & Zach Longren
Edina, MN
"Hi Miles,
In summary, the trip [Kuelap & Gocta Express 8D] exceeded our expectations. Three factors - our guide Ronald, the overall level of service, and the landscapes - natural and cultural - accounted for our satisfaction.
... We would (and have) recommend the trip to anyone who had the time and the stamina!"
Andrew & Maureen Wallach
Cusco, Peru & USA
For their full testimonial, click here.
"Hi Miles,
The trip was nothing short of flawless ... Dan and I had an amazing time. Thank you so much, yet again! ... Northern Peru is truly a magical place.
I found the hiking to be pleasant, but know Dan found certain parts to be a challenge. My favorite guide was Jabier Farje Albarado from Leymebamba. He is a kind, knowledgeable, and patient man.
In short, would I do it again? Yes!"
Brendan Hieber & Daniel Johnston
Lima, Peru & Brooklyn, NY
"Hello Miles,
Ronald [Wagter] was a great guide. He was very friendly and helpful, knew the area well. He also grows some nice coffee.
In Moyobamba, we stopped at Waqanki and saw many orchid species, even though it wasn't the high season for orchid flowering. The hummingbirds were very nice there. We also stopped at an orchid nursery that I knew of in the town.
Gocta Lodge has a great view. The room was clean, the grounds were nice, the food was ok ...
... Kuelap was very scenic.
Gocta Falls trail was very nice, we enjoyed the falls and the walk through the forest. The horses definitely helped. We also found some nice little orchid species along the trail."
Daniel Lentz & Dianne Morgan
Roswell, GA
"Nice greeting from Slovakia!
I am back at home and work right now. But I am happy that I have seen all these beautiful places in Peru [Lima, Paracas, Cusco & Machu Picchu].
Thank you for all help. Have a nice day 🙂 !"
Jana Kurnavova
Bratislava, Slovakia
"Hi Miles - back in Calif. now ... we had a good time out at Tambopata Research Center, lots of good wildlife watching, nice people, etc. a good trip.
We appreciate your help with the arrangements. Thanks"
Randall & Emma Paul
Mission Viejo, CA
"My aunt and I loved it [Cusco & Machu Picchu]. The Cusco hotel and setting was great, lovely place.
The Sacred Valley tour was good. The guide was very chatty.
Machu Picchu was very good: it was a bit rainy, but that made it look mysterious."
Matthew Spry & Ann Grindley
Frampton Cotterell, Gloucs.
"We really enjoyed our trip to the Colca Canyon. Our guide was great and very informative.
The stay at the Colca Lodge was excellent, we wish we could’ve stayed another night, the trip over to the lodge from Arequipa wasn’t the most exciting, maybe because the weather wasn’t great – but the day after was brilliant, we enjoyed visiting the local towns and got to the condor pass just at the right time to see LOTS of condors!
We also stopped at a lot of interesting vantage points with great views across the canyon which was fantastic.
Our onward trip to Puno was handled well and was completely stress free!
Overall a great trip and thanks for organising so well! Thanks again."
Andy Williams & Stacey Smith
Hackney, London
"Hi Miles,
Re our trip to Treehouse Lodge, from the pick up in Iquitos to the drop back, it was Fabulous.
Johnny, the guide, was AMAZING with his knowledge of the animals, birds and wildlife. His English was excellent. He was obliging with everything we required or requested, he went out of his way to make our trip memorable. He organised some wonderful adventures on the rivers with our own boat driver, Ricky, who had a wonderful knowledge of the river and local area, as he came from one of the local villages.
The tree house we stayed in was certainly unique and comfortable .... The staff at the Lodge were all very nice and obliging and most had some English which made our life easy.
Great holiday we will be talking about for a long time. Thank you for arranging it for us and I will certainly refer others to you."
Marilyn & Dave Morgan
Clareville, NSW, Australia
"We had a great trip [Gocta, Kuelap, Leymebamba & Cajamarca], thanks for all your help. Everything went well on the ground and the only thing we would have done differently is have fewer rest days and tried to see more.
Thanks again"
Ethan & Sarah Kline
USA & UK
"Miles,
Trip was beyond excellent. If I was you, I would recommend this lodge [Gocta Andes Lodge] to many. Kuelap is amazing.
The night before we left, we both said we should have stayed another day and/or lifetime."
Brendan Hieber & Jackie Sanchez
Dallas, TX & Lima, Peru
"Hi Miles,
Thank you very much for you help with organising the trip for my parents' visit to Cusco and the sacred valley. It was amazing and everything went perfectly.
Everything was organised down to the last detail and they really enjoyed it. All of the tours and tour guides we had were excellent.
Also the hotels we stayed at were very nice and the staff all bilingual and very helpful.
Thank you again for making it such a memorable trip for them."
Thomas & Mary Jordan
Carlow, Ireland
"Hi Miles,
Trip was awesome, quality lodges all three [Gocta Lodge, Tucan Suites, Pumarinri] and ate well. Tours were great and I was taken good care of throughout the trip, so excellent.
Many thanks, and I wish you and your family a feliz año nuevo!"
Paul Marshman
Barnet, UK
"Hi, Miles.
Neil and I have been back a few weeks now from Argentina [El Chalten, Bariloche trek, Buenos Aires & Calafate]. As promised here are some photos.
We had a fantastic time, it is a vast country and I am glad we did not race around and try to see all of it ...
... Thank you for your advice regarding our itinerary."
Pauline & Neil Twogood
Dagnall, Herts, UK
"Dear Miles,
One again, a thousand thanks for helping us to have a great trip - this time to Arequipa and the Colca Canyon. As usual, your advice on where to go and how long to spend there was invaluable.
The hotels you suggested were perfect - the Casa Andina Select in Arequipa has a terrace overlooking the main square and the Cathedral, where we spent many happy hours sipping our drinks, reflecting on our day's sightseeing and deciding which of Arequipa's many fine restaurants we should eat in next.
The Colca Lodge was delightful, especially the thermal pools, and we took full advantage of them. It may have looked odd, sitting for hours in water with my hat and sunglasses on, but it felt wonderful!
[The] guides and transport were excellent - all the guides we met were enthusiastic, friendly and knowledgeable and the service was extremely efficient.
The journeys to the Colca valley and to see the condors were exciting - we saw a volcano [Sabancaya] erupting, and we saw condors flying, as well as wonderful vast, wild landscapes.
We are both really grateful for your advice and help in organising our trips,
Wishing you a very happy New Year."
Elana Dallas & Alastair Hatchett
Highbury, UK
You can read their TripAdvisor reviews here ... and here.
"Miles,
We were both grateful for both your sage advice and flawless organisation of our trip to Lake Titicaca. You tailored a short programme covering exactly what we wanted, and the whole thing was spectacular.
Isla Suasi is indescribably beautiful. The hotel is wonderful. The staff friendly. The food good. But it is the location that makes it special. The island is easily explorable by foot and the views of the lake are breathtaking.
A particular highlight are the vicuñas on the island - it's incredible to see them pop their heads up just a few yards away as you're walking around, or see them taking a drink from the lake by the shore.
If you're seeking peace, quiet and beauty, I can't recommend this place enough.
Sillustani was also impressive. The Hotel Libertador in Puno good enough (but pales completely in comparison to Isla Suasi).
A particular thanks for the transfer back to the airport. Your organisation ensured we had an almost full day at the resort before heading to the airport. It turned out that another couple from the Isla Suasi were on the same flight, but by taking the boat, via Puno, they spent most of the afternoon in far less impressive surroundings.
Worth noting that most of the road transfer was actually a treat in itself - driving through the Andes at sunset gave us chance to peek out at normal Andean life, far removed from the slightly exaggerated tourist trap of the Uros Islands. Once the sun went down it was less interesting, but the first hour or so was very cool.
A final note - I'm a big fan of your website and information packs. I love the informal, almost chatty tone of it all.
So, all in all. Thanks! We shall be bugging you again when the time comes for our next Peruvian adventure!"
Mike & Jennifer Vidler
British Embassy, Lima
You can read their TripAdvisor review here.
"Thank you Miles. Yes. Treehouse Lodge was very good indeed! I loved being about 60 feet high in the jungle especially in a storm, swayed from side to side with all the jungle sounds.
It was not for the faint hearted perhaps as the insects were everywhere - and big. However, the service was excellent and the guide too, was always organising new trips and very companionable. I would love to go again!"
Anne Askew
Peckham, UK
"We had a great holiday, thanks for the organisation. Hotel Casa Morey perfect for starting off. Like the simplicity of the place and pleasing aesthetics.
[Sinchicuy] Amazon Lodge was great: saw much wildlife. Got lots of good photos."
Julian Walter & Family,
Lima, Peru
"Hi Miles,
We had a wonderful time, it far exceeding our expectations ...
... Sacred Valley tour - this was great, our guide was very knowledgable and his English was fantastic which made the whole tour very enjoyable.
Salkantay trek - really enjoyed the trek (mostly, it was very tough at times!) And the scenery you see whilst walking the Andes is breathtaking, and unlike anything I've experienced before.
Machu Picchu - Our Salkantay guide had an upset stomach, so we had another guide for our Machu Picchu day and she was brilliant. She was very knowledgeable and seemed to really enjoy her job.
... Tambopata Research Center - the 5 days here was amazing. We were treated so well, our guide was absolutely fantastic. The walks out were great, and there was a lot of downtime in between in the lodge, which we really liked after the full-on first week that we had! We also thought that the food was particularly good.
We saw a lot of wildlife, and our guide knew everything about all of the animals and plants. The only thing that we wanted to see and didn't was the Jaguar, which one of the other groups actually saw whilst on the boat there, however that can't be helped!
Everything about this part of the trip was wonderful (ok maybe not the mosquitos). We both agreed that the Amazon rainforest was probably our favourite part of the holiday.
Lima - last day in Lima our hotel was lovely, staff very helpful. We had a lot of time to kill before the evening flight so we went down to the coast. Lima is so different to everywhere else we went!
... Thanks again for helping us sort it all out, we had an amazing time and would definitely recommend it to anyone!"
Chris Mizen & Danielle Hurley
London, UK.
NB. You can read their Salkantay Trek review on TripAdvisor here (#4).
"Hi Miles!
We have both made it back to our respective homes. What a trip!
The Peruvian Amazon is an unparalleled haven of biodiversity, and we were really happy to be able to share some time together. We have been friends for over 23 years, and our Amazon trip allowed us time to catch fish, catch up, and take stock of what really matters.
Being able to fish while we were surrounded by monkeys, dolphins, sloths, butterflies, and a huge array of birds was incredible.
Thanks for setting up everything at Muyuna Lodge! I'll certainly be in touch."
Brendan Hieber & Jimmy Carmichael
Dallas, TX.
"Hi Miles,
My trip to the north Peru (Amazonas) was, thanks to you, one of a lifetime. Many thanks for helping me getting around, your tips and suggestions on where to go, what to see, where to stay – all priceless. Chachapoyas, Kuelap, Canon del Sonche, Gocta waterfalls, all fantastic places.
Also thank you for tailoring my trip to Galapagos, I know it’s not your main area, yet all went smooth.
Muchas gracias"
Stano Kostka,
Prague, Czech Republic
"Hi Miles,
We're back in cold and rainy England. Our trip to the Amazon went extremely well - as ever you managed to direct us towards something pitched just right.
The journey was straightforward, the Ceiba Tops lodge was extremely comfortable, with good food, comfortable rooms (air conditioned, excellent beds), dry towels every day and lots of friendly staff. The swimming pool was an unnecessary but welcome bonus.
Our guide, Roberto, was extremely professional - knowledgeable, well organised, flexible (he adapted the itinerary when we expressed our interests) and with excellent English.
Our itinerary was full and varied. There were a couple of items that were less successful than others (a trip to a rather sad monkey sanctuary and a visit to an Indian community that left us feeling rather uncomfortable, they performed a dance and then sold us trinkets, but we felt quite ambivalent about the whole set-up). However, all the other outings - the canopy walk, the bird-watching, the fishing and so on - were terrific.
The length of the trip - five days, four nights - felt exactly right to us. So I'd happily recommend this trip.
Our next visit to Peru will be this December, so we'll be in touch later this year to ask for your help."
Elana Dallas & Alastair Hatchett
Highbury, UK
NB. You can read their TripAdvisor review here
"Hi Miles,
Thanks for resending the email! I did lose it. The trip was great.
As you noted, Argentina was more expensive than we were anticipating. The hotels were great. Hiking on Perito Moreno was once in a lifetime. Loved the boat ride. Trekking in El Chalten was beyond gorgeous.
We took salsa classes in BA which were fun. We had incredible bbqs and had a glorious time altogether.
Hoping all is going well with your business and will continue to send folks your way!
Thanks!"
Terra Tolley, Brendan Hieber & Nieves Schauffele
Dallas, TX & Buenos Aires, Argentina
"Hi Miles,
Not home yet, still in Chile & head back tonight.
My trip to Peru [Lima, Cusco & Machu Picchu] was amazing, the service was really, really good."
Louisa Pietersen
Perth, Australia
"Our 3-day stay at Ceiba Tops was a wonderful family experience, for my wife and I, our 2-year-old boy and my father.
After a short river ride from Iquitos and checking into our cabin, we went on a 2-hour afternoon walk in the jungle immediately surrounding the lodge, with our dedicated, English-speaking guide, Aberlardo.
Over the following 2 days we went river boat riding, piranha fishing, dolphin spotting, jungle canopy rooftop walking, poisoned dart blowing and to a small animal sanctuary where we got very friendly with parrots, sloths and snakes. The pace was not too rushed, however, and we had time to enjoy the pool at the lodge as well.
The cabins were clean and comfortable, with hot water and air conditioning, and Aberlardo was extremely helpful and playful with our boy.
Many thanks to Miles and the team for recommending a lodge that was perfect for our particular needs, and for smoothly organising the trip and responding to our many queries."
Mark Griffin & Family
Cheltenham, UK & Lima, Peru
"Dear Miles,
Our trip to Peru was wonderful. Thank you so much for making it happen. We have nothing but praise for all the people we met on our travels....drivers and guides alike. I see you give Elvis a mention in your latest web update .... he was wonderful!
People don't know what they are missing; I am so glad we decided not to go to Machu Picchu, but head north, and then across the Andes instead. Absolutely brilliant!
It goes without saying that Ceiba Tops and, of course, the Delfin II were also excellent; we greatly appreciated your very kind upgrade.
With kind regards and best wishes, Diana."
Diana Houston & Kevin McCauley
Co. Down, UK
"Miles arranged a very enjoyable trip to the Amazon rainforest for me and my wife. He organised a lodge [Heliconia] which successfully met both our different requirements, and his local knowledge in this area was invaluable.
The transfers were seamless, the lodge was very comfortable, the food was excellent and the guides had good level of English.
Miles was very helpful and I would highly recommend his company."
James Bunting & Irma Valdez
Norfolk, UK & Lima, Peru