Dear Nina:
Thanks to your help and advice, the entire trip was wonderful. Starting with how to prepare for the altitude and then the sequence you helped us plan worked out perfectly. We particularly appreciate that you were able to put it all together on such short notice.
Having a local guide and capable driver at our disposal during our time in the Sacred Valley really added to the experience. Being met at each step of the way and escorted to our next stop took away a great deal of the normal worry and stress associated with traveling in a foreign country. Our guide, Jose Luis, was born and raised near Aguas Calientes and had a real knowledge of and passion for the area. He was very patient and a great teacher. The van was spotless and our driver, Alex, was very capable. We felt spoiled having the whole van to ourselves as most of the smaller groups were transported in small station wagons.
After having our wonderful guided tour through Machu Picchu, on our fifth day in Peru, we ran into a woman who had booked a whirl-wind tour through another company and had arrived in Machu Picchu from Cusco that day. She was going back to Cusco the evening of the same day. She had no guide through the ruins and absolutely no knowledge of or appreciation for what she was seeing. She was also struggling with the altitude because of lack of acclimation. What a contrast from our experience!
Our day on Lake Titicaca was absolutely perfect. We had hoped to see reed boats in the Uros floating islands, but never anticipated the opportunity to ride on one! The visit to Taquile Island was interesting and we were moved by the local struggle between maintaining an ancient way of life and moving into a cash economy.
When we started planning the trip, you told us that we were not allowing nearly enough time to see everything we wanted to see. You were right, of course, and we will have to return to experience what we missed.
We will be happy to recommend your services to anyone planning a trip to Peru.
Kathy and Barry Bracken
Water’s Edge B&B and Kaleidoscope Cruises
P.O. Box 1201 Petersburg, AK 99833
www.petersburglodgingandtours.com
info@petersburglodgingandtours.com
1-800-To-The-Sea, local: 772-3736
Link to Wonderful Photographs, courtesy of Barry Bracken: Photos
