Hi Ted & Staff

We had a great time and loved all the different experiences, all the tour guides and coach drivers were excellent and the range of accommodation was great we had some fun with the varied plumbing fittings and water supply (on lack of at times). The plumbing was hot conversation, to see who had water on hot water.

Many thanks P+I Lane, June 2006

Dear Ted

It was an excellent well planned trip.

The hotels were good – the one in Quito not quite up to standard of others, the stairs were difficult with cases. Machu Picchu Pueblo was wonderful.

Local guides – I was impressed by their knowledge, enthusiasm, warmth and willingness to please us at all times. All were native Indian except Erich in Bolivia – he had everything but the warmth probably due to his Austrian background, but he was terrific otherwise. Lucy in Ecuador was lovely but the best was Willy in Peru. All bus drivers were good.

Time in the Amazon Valley was most interesting – the time in the bird hide to view the macaws was amazing. The long boat ride from Puerto Maldonado and back again a bit uncomfortable but bearable. I will not forget the sound of the howler monkeys!

The days in Peru with Willy were the best for me. The Inca history is concentrated over 500 years but so varied – his descriptions were excellent. Mach Picchu was probably the highlight as that is what I went for. The salt pools and concentric terraces in the Sacred Valley were amazing.

I admit I was furious at missing the plane at Lima – one always takes note of the time on the ticket! However it all worked out in the end and apart from back-tracking a couple of times we did not miss out – thanks to Lyn on behalf of us. There were other times when things did not go according to plan but one must expect that in the type of countries we were in and one has to be patient. I thought the occasional outburst from some people was unwarranted.

The INKA EXPRESS bus from Cuzco to Puno was an excellent alternative to the Andean Explorer. The driver and the host Manuel got us through the very sticky situations – something to talk about over dinner parties!
Lake Titicaca was an eye opener with its size, Uros Island, Taquile Island and then Sun and Moon Island on the Bolivian side.

Spectacular views of the Andes from the plane as we flew will not be forgotten, but the plane trip from La Paz to Arica en route to Santiago was very scary. Also the economy seating in domestic flights in South America is VERY cramped.

I was impressed with the attention given by you and the local companies to my friends G. and V. Obviously they were so disappointed but we all came home together which was good.

Thanks again and I have already given your name to people who have not yet been to South America.

P Powell, July 2006

Dear Ted

I thoroughly enjoyed my five weeks in South America. All the guides were outstanding, especially Lucy in Ecuador and Willie in Cuzco. They showed particular concern for our health and safety as well as making sure we enjoyed everything.

The accommodation was varied and interesting – beds were comfortable.

When things did go wrong (missed flight, train strike) they were handled in a professional manner and to our satisfaction.

Yours faithfully, L James, July 2006

Dear Ted

It was a great group and we all seemed to mould together. It was a well planned itinerary and what a pity we mucked it up by missing that flight. However Lyn and Explorandes worked very hard to come up with a compromise and being Aussies we adapted to the changes without too much trouble.

The guides and drivers were all excellent – Lucy in Ecuador and Willy in Cusco were just wonderful. We were looked after so well.

I think that the highlight of our tour would have to be Machu Picchu. We were fascinated by the Inca ruins both at Machu Picchu, Cusco and in the Sacred Valley and we marvelled at the skills of such an ancient civilization. My great accomplishment was to climb the mountain behind Machu Picchu with 4 others from our group and Willy our guide.

We enjoyed the countryside, the villages and seeing the people wearing their traditional dress. Pisac market was a bonus and I know that everyone enjoyed that experience. Viewing from the air some of the minor tributaries of the mighty Amazon made us wonder and imagine the awesome size of the main waterway.

We found all the accommodation on the whole to be very good. Bellavista in the Cloud Forest was fairly rugged, but a great experience, as were the bungalows in the Amazon Jungle.

I cannot speak highly enough of your agents in Peru and Chile. Explorandes in Cusco and Lima gave us wonderful support while G. was in hospital and while he was recuperating. Cocha to a lesser extent in Santiago provided us with the transfer to the hotel and enquiries about G’s health. It was reassuring to have that support.

Yours sincerely, V & G McPherson, June 2006

Dear Ted,

Overall the trip was very enjoyable, the accommodation was generally good and the itinerary well balanced. Whilst there certainly were several hiccups, one cannot be too critical, given the developing nature of the countries and their attitude to timing and punctuality.

In relation to the highlights of the trip, the Galapagos was great and Cusco, Quito and La Paz are not to be missed. Machu Picchu was another highlight and I was pleased that we actually stayed near the sight for two nights and didn’t just travel out for a day trip.
Thanks for arranging a great trip, I certainly would recommend it to friends.
Regards, M Cooper, July 2006

Dear Ted

It is hard to find words to express how I felt during the trip, and how I feel now after it is all over. It is one of the best experiences I have ever had. Your excellent planning with Lyn enabled us to enjoy and learn so much, and the wonderful guides we had, particularly in Ecuador and Peru, added so much to our enjoyment. Many many highlights were experienced and it is hard to isolate any one. Many of us felt it all came together in Bolivia when we visited Tiwanaku, which has such a history, yet much more has yet to be discovered.

I was most impressed at the tour company ‘Explorandes’ at the way they handled the rearrangements with Lyn in Lima after our unfortunate flight timing. Much time was spent in this and we may have missed a day in Cusco and in the Amazon. I feel we were extremely fortunate in not having any other flight problems as South America does have a reputation for this. We met some Americans in Lima who had been waiting for three days to get their flights home…

I also appreciate your efforts in handling the situation and appreciate your generosity in the fact we had no extra charges.

Explorandes also came to the party with the bus from Cusco to Puno, and the difficulties experienced on that trip were handled most capably by Manuel the guide. At no time did I feel fear as he exuded confidence and got us safely to Puno.

Certainly I am much more aware of these countries and am so pleased that at last I have visited them. The wonderful Andean Alps, the scenery, the colourful markets, the colourful clothing of the people and their friendliness, the almost obscene amount of gold in the many churches, wonderful Sun Island with the delightful cabins overlooking the Royal Range, actually walking on the Inca Trail until the track closure, the fascinating Inca bridge along a most beautiful walking track filled with flowers, pisco sours everywhere until I had reached saturation point, and of course the absorbing history, much of which is theory which makes it all the more interesting to know how and why… In my next life I would lobe to be an archaeologist.

Thanks Ted.

Yours sincerely, Barbara, June 2006

Hi Ted, You probably have some feedback on the tour already as I presume Lyn has done so. Apart from the issue of the missed flight, my wife and I had an amazing adventure and whilst we certainly could have stayed longer in some areas we realise this would have shortened or precluded us from staying and seeing as much as we did. For the time we had in the countries we visited we could not have done, or seen more. Itinerary format was excellent.

Although shortened due to missing a flight, our stay at Heath River Lodge was very good, but I could not say the same for Sandaval Lodge. The food was good at Sandaval but the accommodation was, basically, for backpackers. A very noisy lodge to stay at. Also at Sandaval there were some safety and sanitary issues, also very limited in ones activities. All other food and accommodation was excellent or better IE Machu Picchu and Cusin.

Highlights - just loved Bella Vista, Mindo and the whole area, could spend several weeks there. Cusco the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu, could spend months there, absolutely amazing.

Please pass our sincere thanks to all the guides and the excellent and courteous bus drivers. Two guides, although as I said they were all very good, really endeared themselves to us. Lucy, or Anna Lucia Morales in Ecuador. Or the age of only 23 she was very professional and always gave that special something extra. And Willy, or Wilfed Huilica, in Peru. Willy was amazing in many ways. His dedication and passion to the culture of his country certainly was passed onto all of us. And his music…..so good. He certainly is a wonderful man. We hope we can in touch with both Willy and Lucy and one day they may visit Australia so we may return their passions.

Ted, you did a wonderful jog of the whole tour, so much seen in a relatively short time. I would also like to thank Explorandes in looking after V. and G. when G. took ill in Cusco. I believe they totally looked after both of them in Lima and Santiago, we would recommend the tour company to anyone.

Oh, the other highlight………for me anyway…….seeing the BIGGEST Bromeliad, even though the road to get to Comanche was atrocious…..was it worth it…….you betcha.

Many thanks Ted, Sue and I would like to visit other parts of South America especially the Tepuis of Venezuela, and do a “specific” tour to see Bromeliads in their natural habitat. Chile, Argentina and the Antarctic are also on our list.

Regard, A & S Ralf, June 2006