PERU ADVENTURE TOURS IS HIGHLY RECOMMENDED BY: South American Handbook 2007 Footprint Travel guide book South American Handbook 2009 The Rough Guide To Peru Footprint Peru Travel Guide Book Le Petit Fute Perou DK Eyewitness Travel Guide Book Thomas Cook; Travellers Peru |
The world is a book and those who do not travel read only one page.
Travel makes one modest; you see what a tiny place you occupy in the world.
In the spirit of the adventure we renew ourselves.
COLCA CANYON 4X4 TOUR - LAKE TITICACA - SACRED VALLEY AND MACHU PICCHU TOUR
TOUR GUIDES: Javier Quispe & Cynthia Morales
April 6th, 2008
Hola Saul,
We are back in the US after our wonderful time in Peru.
We wanted to take a few minutes to share our thoughts about the trip and the excellent service provided to us by PERU ADVENTURE TOURS and particularly by Javier and Cynthia. On the first "leg" of the trip Javier and our driver, Armando were courteous, knowledgeable and friendly. As you know, because the bridge washed out, we were not able to go to Cambanaconde as we had planned, but rather had to back track and go via Chivay.
We felt that Javier (with Armando's help) did a great job of assessing the situation and made the right decision to change course rather than to wait and see what would happen with the bridge. The only down side (which was not preventable) was that we wished that we had had more time to explore in Cabanaconde. By the time we reached the village we were quite tired and it was getting dark. Javier demonstrated a thorough knowledge of the flora/fauna of the area as well as the history and culture of the people living there. My husband wrote the following to our daughters: "*This country is something to behold. Very beautiful and very interesting. We are happy to have spent the last two days with a guide. We spent those days in the Colca Canyon and Colca Valley one of the most beautiful places on earth. I hope you all get the chance to go there some day. We have traveled back in time to a place where they work the terraced fields with animals and everyone wears very colorful traditional dress. The place is stunningly beautiful. Yesterday morning we hiked high along the canyon amongst fabulous wildflowers. Later we saw numerous Andean Condors, birds with a ten foot wingspan that glide about high on the cliffs. Later we saw beautiful pink flamingos as well. From the canyon over to Puno on Lake Titicaca we traveled the very high altiplano that is much like Wyoming or Idaho or parts of Utah except instead of many cows, you see lots of grazing alpacas and llamas".
Javier was friendly and engaged. His English was excellent. We are studying Spanish and he was very patient and willing to help us with the meaning of words and with our pronunciation. He and Armando made every effort to assure that we saw much as possible and truly experienced this beautiful area. The hand-off to Janet in Puno was a bit confused but I don't think that was due to anything Javier (or Janet) did. It was just not clear who was doing what and we worried a bit because we weren't sure about Janet's role. However, once she came to the hotel and we met, all went very well. Janet arranged for a very nice tour to Los Uros floating islands and escorted us to the tourist bus in Puno which was very, very helpful.
We enjoyed the tourist bus tour from Puno to Cuzco and we were delighted to see Cynthia upon our arrival at the bus station. From that point on Cynthia made our visit comfortable and enjoyable. She was wonderfully enthusiastic and very attentive and helpful. For instance, I left my credit card at the Casa Andina in Puno which as you can imagine made us very worried. Cynthia called the hotel and got an assurance that they would have it delivered to the hotel the next day (which they did). Cynthia also recommended several things that we should do on our first day in Puno. There was a bit of a mix up regarding the hotel in Cuzco, because the itinerary still had Rumi Punku at the top and so that's where we stayed. I called Los Ninos and canceled our room there.
The next day Cynthia arrived with Javier (the driver) and we were treated to a lovely tour of the Sacred Valley. We stopped several times along the way and were impressed with Cynthia's knowledge of the countryside, agricultural economy and especially the culture and habits of the people. Cynthia was thoroughly conversant in Inca history and culture. We especially enjoyed our tours of Pisac and Ollantaytambo. The tour of Machu Picchu was of course a real highlight. The setting is incredibly beautiful, but Cynthia's knowledge and organizational skills truly enhanced our visit. We had a wonderful hike in the morning to the Sun Gate and then toured the site in the afternoon with few other tourist to distract us. The train trip was a real visual experience as well and one that we won't soon forget.
Cynthia met us once again in Ollantaytambo and then transferred us back to Cuzco. Cynthia too, was very helpful and patient with our attempts to speak Spanish. She was bright, happy and enthusiastic about our visit, but perhaps what is most impressive about Cynthia is her obvious love for her city, her department and her country. We learned a great deal and thoroughly enjoyed the adventure that she led us on.
As you can see we were very happy with the PERU ADVENTURE TOURS (Saul). I especially appreciate your responsiveness to my emails, phone calls and requests for information. We will recommend you highly. We are already missing Peru! Best Regards.
Susan and Richard Robinson
susangrobinson(at)gmail.com
US
CUSCO TO ABANCAY 3 DAYS CYNCLING TRIP
TOUR GUIDE: Saul Ceron
January 18th, 2008
PERU ADVENTURE TOURS (Saul Ceron)
The 3-day cycling tour from Cusco to Abancay is a marvelous way to experience the Andean culture, leaving the mobs of tourists far behind in Cusco and the Sacred Valley. Sarah and I found out about PERU ADVENTURE TOURS through an internet search. We wanted a custom tour so that we could go at our own pace, and that is exactly what we found.
With van support, we left Cusco with our guide Saul Ceron (pronounced Say-ool Say-rone), the owner of PERU ADVENTURE TOURS and driver Nicco.
The van picked us up at 7:30am at our hotel in Cusco and within minutes we were climbing out of town on the main route toward Lima. Once past the turn-off toward the Cinchero and Sacred Valley, the road emptied and we drove through beautiful farmlands, slowly climbing toward the 3,800 metre pass dividing the Urubamba and Apurimac watersheds.
Stopping on the way to buy fruit, Quechua pop corn and other food supplies, we reached the top of the pass within an hour. It was time to get on our bikes and enjoy the 43 km. descent to the Cunyac bridge crossing the Apurimac.
At 3,800 metres, the farmlands were pretty marginal, but as we descended further, the grazing lands turned to potato fields, and then to corn. There are over 400 types of corn grown in the Andes, each type carefully cultivated by the Quechua farmers for the prevailing altitude and local rainfall patterns. The road was smooth and there was almost no traffic. Saul stopped frequently to talk to the farmers and their families, giving us a first-hand look at their lifestyle and mud brick farm houses. Few had electricity or running water. Life is very simple in the Andes.
Sarah and I saw that virtually everything is done manually on the Andean farms - plowing, planting and picking. There are three growing seasons, meaning that life on an Andean farm is tough year round and very much a family affair.
Soon we arrived at Limatambo, a small village with Inca ruins beside the main road. The rectangular ceremonial structures had 12 doors facing the road and 8 on the side. While no longer a complete structure, the tightly fitting stones confirmed that this was an important ceremonial building overlooking the Rio Blanco valley. Clearly, these ruins were rarely visited. Saul had a hard time locating the caretaker, whose family lived in a precariously fragile colonial mansion, that was itself in ruins and barely standing. In fact, much of it had collapsed, yet the family still called it home.
Lower down, the lush farms turned to arid countryside. By this time, we had descended over 2,000 metres to the Apurimac River. The cool misty air at the top of the 3,800 metre pass was replaced by hot dry valley winds. Cactus was everywhere. Being the rainy season in the Andes, the Apurimac was a raging, muddy torrent. Saul told us that rafting was too dangerous in the rainy season - the river was simply too powerful. The Apurimac watershed is the true source of the Amazon. It was hard to believe that the water we were standing beside would ultimately make its way to the Atlantic 6,400 km. downstream.
Shortly thereafter, we crossed the Apurimac and began the long climb up the western side. The cactus shapes were awe-inspiring - we could have been in southern Arizona.
Fortunately, the Andean highways are not very steep. Grades seldom exceed 7% to 8%, so Sarah and I had little difficulty keeping a constant and reasonable pace. While we found that a comfortable speed going downhill was from 15 to 20 km per hour, in the heat near the bottom of the valley, a more comfortable climbing speed was 7 km. per hour.
About 10 km. into the climb, we stopped at a roadside hotel (literally the only hotel within miles) for lunch. Amid banana, mango, orange, lemon and papaya trees, we feasted on a big lunch before resuming our climb overlooking the spectacular Apurimac canyon.
Our destination for the day was the CConoc hot springs. Soon we reached the turnoff - a rough gravel road that descended steeply to the Apurimac River. At this point along the Apurimac, the 6,200 metre Salcantay massif stands on the eastern shore, and the Ampay massif rises to over 5,200 metres on the western shore. Wedged between is the third deepest canyon in the world. And we were at the bottom of it. Just downstream, the waters frothed through the narrowest part of the canyon. The hot springs themselves were like an oasis. Bamboo and sugar cane crowded the side of the pool.
After a short swim, we climbed into the van and drove back to our luncheon hotel where we spent the first night. The rooms were clean and the food was good. Next morning, we started early, climbing on our bikes by 8:00 AM. Saul had coached us well - he said the climb out of the Apurimac was long and constant. Our lunch destination was 21 km up the road at Curahuasi, a market town for the region's Quechua farmers. Sarah was in fine form, powering up the long hill.
It was fascinating to see "climate change" right in front of our eyes. Cactus fields, bamboo structures housing road-side fruit stands, and tropical orchards slowly gave way to corn fields. The heat was oppressive but the views magnificent.
When we arrived at Curahuasi, it was already lunch time. The cooler air at 2,550 metres was a pleasant change, as was the bustle of the market town. After lunch, we loaded our bikes on top of the van and continued to climb up the valley. Soon thereafter, we arrived at Saywite, the site of one of the best preserved Inca stones. The Saywite stone, measuring about 2 metres high and 7 metres around, is a beautifully carved model of the surrounding village and valley. The carving lays out the fields, water works, residential areas, ceremonial structures and just about everything else. It is truly a wonder.
Back in the van, we climbed to the top of the valley where at 3,800 metres we got back on our bikes for the 30 km. descent to Abancay. The twisting road makes for a thrilling ride, again passing through several climate zones and seasons on the way down.
Abancay was our destination for the day. While slightly more populous than Cusco, it is worlds' away. Abancay is a truly Andean city - without tourists or tourism infrastructure. We did not see a single European or North American. The narrow streets were filled with people - all going about their daily business. We felt completely safe - and not a single person tried to sell us anything or shine our shoes! Truly, there is nothing in common between Cusco and Abancay.
Our hotel was simple, but comfortable. Certainly the hot shower felt good after the long climb out of the Apurimac Canyon. Saul and Nicco treated us to a delightful late lunch. By dinner time, we were still full from lunch, so a simple Chinese soup was the perfect end to another active day.
Next morning, we again loaded up the van and drove up to the top of the pass on the road back to Cusco. Back in the cool fog and light drizzle, we dressed up with warm clothing before getting on our bikes.
Our destination was Cachora, a small Andean market village 18 km. off the main road by a long descending gravel road. Cachora is the starting point for the trek to Choquequierao, the "lost" Andean Inca village overlooking the Apurimac River, on the western slopes below Salcantay. Many people say that Choquequirao is just as spectacular as Machu Picchu, which sits on a ridge on the eastern slopes below Salcantay, overlooking the Urubamba River.
The ride down to Cachora was a ride into the past. Simple farms became even simpler. Nothing has changed here for decades, maybe even centuries. This was truly a magical experience.
Cachora was a fitting stop for lunch. It is a simple village, far away from anything. The two exceptions were the internet cafe, which seemed completely out of place, and the police station, which seemed unnecessary, to say the least.
Leaving Cachora, we drove back up to the main road and resumed our cycle on the road back to Cusco. We descended for over two hours - passing back through Curahuasi, CConoc and eventually to the hotel where we had spent the first night. There we stopped for lunch. Our cycle trip was over and it was time to climb into the van for the three-hour drive back to Cusco.
What a magnificent trip, with a superb guide. Saul Ceron is truly a professional - his many years of experience and deep knowledge and respect for his culture made this 3-day trip truly memorable.
Russell Goodman and Sarah Ellwood
goody1257(at)sympatico.ca
CANADA
COLCA CANYON TREK 3 Days
TOUR GUIDE: Cathy Linares
We were very pleased with our trip. It was well organized, the guide was professional, flexible and friendly. The walk was longer and more difficult than other routes and don't included the Oasis. however the trek had fewer tourists than other alternative, thermal baths were great after walking.
Accommodation is lonely, food is great and the local people very friendly. The zoom start in the last day is very hard but the walk without sun makes the ascent much easier.
The only thing that we could change was to do the trek in January/Febraury to see the canyon green..... Muchas gracias!!!
Peter y Penny
pjcoverdale(a)hotmail.com
Australia
PERU RENT A CAR 4 Days
July 31, 2007
Hola Saul,
Miky was the perfect driver for us. His style of driving is careful and considerate (we did not feel nervous). He is prompt, courteous and very helpful. He is a nice person with a very pleasant personality.
The pravate van was ideal for our situation (spacious, air-tight, well-maintained and with air-conditioning).
Muchas Gracias.
Dale & Nancy
delaneyd8(at)earthlink.net
USA
CHACHANI MOUNTAIN 2 Days
MOUNTAIN GUIDE: Jose Arias
July 30, 2007
Hello Saul,
Thank a lot for your help and everything that organized me the best trip to Peru I've ever had! Climbing Chachani was one of my ultimate dreams for a long time since I made it to the top! It was the highest point of my life at 6075m with your helpful guide - Jose; he's considerate, friendly and helpful guide even though he walk too fast!! Anyway, that was one of my memorial treks in my life so far! Now, I ready to summit some peak in Himalayas!
Thank you again.
Tanut
patriots_zac(at)yahoo.com
USA
CERRO BLANCO SANDBOARDING
TOUR GUIDE: Leo Reyes
July 29, 2007
Hi Saul
We had a great tour! Loved the hike and the sandboarding, and the generosity of the guide to lug our boards up there for us. :-) A great way to end a
trip to Peru. : )
Sally Allred Lockett
sallyanneallred(a)yahoo.com
United Stated
COLCA HORSEBACK RIDING 4 Days
TOUR GUIDE: Cathy Linares
24th and 25th, April 2007
Hello PERU ADVENTURE TOURS Team (Saul Ceron)
Here a short report of the trekking we had between April 20th and 23rd, 2007.
The name of the guide was Cathy. She always asked us what was we preferred to do, offering different alternatives.
She supported us when we suffered soroche the first day.
The horseback riding was pleasant, the two gentlemen (nomi?) that lead the horses were kind and we enjoyed very much talking with them. We sat altogether for lunch and dinner, and that was good.
The horses were quiet and neat, it was easy to ride even if we were not experts.
Cathy explained us all main peculiarities of culture and nature inside the Colca canyon. The hotel in Chivay was nice and tidy.
The trekking was very positive and we enjoyed very much the time spent there.
Elisa & Peter
elisa.ruscello(at)faiveleytransport.com
From Italy
CLIMB MISTI VOLCANO - AGUADA BLANCA 2 Days
TOUR GUIDE: Teodoro
24th and 25th, April 2007
Hello Peru Adventure Team (Saul Ceron)
The guide (Teo) and the porter (Alfredo) were kind and they helped a lot in bringing the equipment to the base camp. They supported us with advice in order to fight the soroche.
Teo cooked dinner for us. There was good food enough for everybody.
The day after, during the route to the summit, Teo and Alfredo helped us to manage the difficulties in climbing, we had no weight since they were carrying the backpacks.
Finally we reached the top of the volcano, and we got back to the base camp completely exhausted.
We did not have to move a finger since Teo and Alfredo took care of disassemble the camp and prepare the backpacks.
The trekking was very positive and we appreciated very much the guides.
Elisa & Peter
elisa.ruscello(at)faiveleytransport.com
From Italy
COLCA CANYON CLASSIC TOUR 2 Days
TOUR GUIDE: Javier Quispe
July 13, 2007
Thanks for short but nice trip, with excellent help of our guide Javier and our driver Carlos.
Igor and Mike with the rest of the group.
mietashole(at)hotmail.com
POLAND
COLCA TREK 3 Days
TOUR GUIDE: Edith Vera
June 25, 2007
Here are our comments on the 3 day Colca Canyon trek we did with Edith (19-21 june):
Guide: Very friendly and told us lots of interesting things about the canyon.
Food: Very good vegetarian food, and Amy´s special diet was well catered for accommodation.
Fine Trek: Very enjoyable, and not too difficult.
LORIEAU Jérôme
www.jeromelorieau.com
lorieaujerome(at)hotmail.com
France
COLCA CANYON BIKING TOUR 2 Days
TOUR GUIDE: Cathy Linares
June 17, 2007
Hi Saul,
Otherwise we had a wonderful time in the canyon. Kathy and Albert were excellent, no complaints. Equipment was good, they made us feel comfortable to make any requests. Pinchollo was very interesting, the hotel we stayed in was actually more than 'basic' though. Otherwise we had a great time, Thank you!
Janet Kushner
jkow(at)telus.net
Canada
ADVENTURE COLCA HORSEBACK RIDING TOUR 4 days
TOUR GUIDE: Cathy Linares
June 11, 2007
Dear PERU ADVENTURE TOURS,
We had a marvillous time. Katty and Felix were both so attentive to our every need, and so patient.
We really enjoyed our horseback riding tour in the canyon. The horses and learn so much about the mountains, birds, plants and all Peruvian thinks. We would highly recommend this tean.
Muchas gracias
Leslie and Stefan
leslie.hoaver(at)rbkc.gov.uk
stefanhiker(at)yahoo.com
Canada - USA
INCA TRAIL TO MACHU PICCHU 4 days
May 26, 2007
Hi Saul,
I had a great time on the Inca Trek Tour, the food was fabulous, and the guide was great, and the equipment was in good shape. Thanks for 3 awesome trips, I loved my entire trip!
Angie Kondrat
a_kondrat(at)hotmail.com
USA
PERU CLASSIC TOUR PACKAGE 17 days
May 23, 2007
Hi Saul,
Yes we are safely back on home turf and unfortunately already back at work!!!!
Unfortunately I returned to find out my grandfather has passed away so I have been a little busy.
We just wanted to say we had a fantastic time in Peru (except for the altitude sickness in Puno - I needed some oxygen!!!). The whole trip was very well organized and some of the accommodation was beautiful. I would say it has been my favourite holiday to date! I would recommend Peru and your company to anyone who wanted to visit South America. We haven't had a chance to look through our photos but when we do we will tell you a bit more about our trip and hopefully send you some shots. Once again, thank you very much for a truly memorable experience.
Nita and Arifur
nita(at)doctors.org.uk
UK
COLCA TREK 4 days
TOUR GUIDE: Cathy Linares
May 4, 2007
Hi guys
Katty was a great guide, she told me many interesting facts and stones throughout the trip. She took great care of me when I was feeling sick and made sure all the proper arrangements for food and lodging were taken care of quickly.
Angela Kondrat
England
HORSEBACK RIDING TOUR IN THE SACRED VALLEY - CUSCO Full day
April 11th, 2007
Saul,
thank you, I truly loved Peru, it is a lovely country with equally lovely people.
Our horseback riding tour in the sacred valley was excellent. It truly was one of the highlights of our trip to Peru. The horses were great and well cared for; the tack was appropriate for the trip. Our tour crew was excellent, very friendly and helpful. The actual trek was beautiful and fun. We ended with a very nice lunch and were said to have to say goodbye to everyone. I would certainly recommend the trip to anyone who loves riding and has some experience. It could be a little scary for a first-time rider, buy anyone with a little experience would love the trip!
It is always tough to select a riding tour, and I've done many, when you don't know how the horses are treated, etc., but your tour was perfect. I may come back in November if all goes well. I will definitely be sure to make recommendations. Thanks, and I guarantee when we come back, we will look at doing another ride, perhaps an overnight!
Debbie
DBlair(at)breederscup.com
Switzerland
AREQUIPA BIKING TOURS Half days
TOUR GUIDE: Saul Ceron
January 27th, 2007
We had a fantasic one-day Mountain biking trip with PERU ADVENTURE TOURS. We biked down El Misti volcano definitely the better direction to be going in!--hopping over the bumps sort of like skiing, down to a quaint little town near the base where we stopped for a nice picnic lunch, followed by a brisk, pretty ride back to Arequipa that was just enough to make us a little sore but not exhausted. Our guide, Saul, was excellent. He spoke very good English and had everything completely prepared for us, from beginning to end--helmets, gloves, snacks, tools. En route to El Misti volcano from Arequipa, Saul gave us a nice overview of the town and its history, plus information about the volcanic geology of the area. On our bike ride we were also accompanied by a 4x4 support vehicle, which carried all of our personal items and food and water and, most importantly, was available in the event of a breakdown or any other problem. Our bikes were excellent quality Treks both fairly new and with very adequate front suspension. Our day trip cost us about $50 each, an excellent price for the service provided.
Our tour was just a small sample of what is available from PERU ADVENTURE TOURS in the area around Arequipa. They can take you to the famous Colca Canyon, but also far beyond, to sites few travellers see. There are countless tour companies in Peru that, for the rock-bottom price, will haul you out to a site and back. But consider what just a few extra bucks can get you. With a company like PERU ADVENTURE TOURS you get first rate service and the peace of mind that you are in good hands, that everything has been well-planned, that all supplies are adequate, that your guide is adept at handling the unknowns and occassional hiccups, and that you are definitely getting your moneys worth. PERU ADVENTURE TOURS is easily among the best.
Nikki & Matt
palmsanders(a)yahoo.com
USA
COLCA CANYON MOUNTAIN BIKE TRIP 3 days
TOUR GUIDE: Saul Ceron
January, 10 2007
Um wieder mal etwas Action in meine Reise zu bringen, habe ich mich entschieden, die Besichtigung des Colca Canyon wenn moeglich mit einerMountain-Bike-Tour zu verbinden. Bei PERU ADVENTURE TOURS wurde ich fuendig. Saul, der Tour-Operator, hat mich im Laden gut beraten und eine 3-taegige Mountain-Bike-Tour in den Colca-Canyon zusammengestellt, die voll meinen Vorstellungen entsprach. Am folgenden Montag gings dann auch schon los. Wir waren nur zu Zweit, Saul als Tour guide und ich als Kunde. Das stellte sich neben der guten Betreuung im nachhinein auch sonst noch als Vorteil heraus: So hatten wir (Saul) dann "nur" etwa 5 Plattfuesse zu reparieren - die Kaktusdornen gehen durch jeden Reifen.
Von Arequipa fuhren wir am Montag um 6 Uhr morgens los. Nach etwa 3 Stunden Busfahrt durch die Pampa verliessen wir den Bus auf einem 4850 Meter hohen Pass und lunden unsere Fahrraeder ab. Von dort gings mit den Velos dann auf einer genialen Downhill-Strecke ueber Singeltrails runter in die Schlucht nach Chivay (3600 m). Genau so, wie ich mir das ertraeumt hatte, selektives Gelaende eben, da hat Saul nicht zu viel versprochen. Spaeter gings auf Schotterstrassen im Canyon weiter. Nach etwa 60 km Offroad-Pisten uebernachteten wir in einem einfachen Hotel in Maca, einem kleinen Doerfchen im Canyon. Zuvor hatten wir allerdings noch einen recht happigen Aufstieg zu meistern. Es waren zwar nur etwa 400 Hoehenmeter, die zu bezwingen waren, doch bei dieser Hoehe hats mir dann doch mehr zugesetzt als erwartet hatte. Um 7 Uhr war ich jedenfalls schon im Bett. Abgesehen von unserer Besichtigungstour gabs in diesem Kaff eh nicht zu machen.
Um 4 Uhr morgens wurden wir dann von LAUTsprecherduchsagen, die durch das ganze Dorf hallten, geweckt. Mein Spanisch war noch sehr schlecht. Ich dachte schon, jetzt sei etwas Ernstes passiert, verstand ich doch so gut wie kein Wort. In Europa gaebe es lautstarke Durchsagen um diese Uhrzeit wohl nur wenn der Krieg ausgebrochen waere und auch dann wuerde man sich auf die Sirenen beschraenken. Ich war beunruhigt! Saul, erklaerte mir dann auf Englisch, dass es nur die regionalen Nachrichten seien, die oeffentlich verlesen wuerden, da hier viele Haeuser kein Strom bzw. Radio haetten - um 4 Uhr!?!
Nachdem wir die Nachrichten mehrmals gehoert hatten - haette ja sein koennen, dass jemand die erste Durchsage verpasst hatte (wie?) - fuhren wir um 6 Uhr los. Nach einer Stunde waren wir beim "Cruz Del Condor", einem Beobachtungspunkt, von wo man 1200m runter in die Schlucht sieht und morgens oft Kondore beobachten kann. Frauen aus dem ganzen Tal reisten mit Busen an, um Fruehstueck, Kaffee und Alpaca-Strickwaren zu verkaufen. Dann kamen die Touristenbusse. Hunderte von Touristen verteilten sich auf den Felsen (waehrend der Hochsaison sollen es noch viel mehr sein) nur die Kondore kamen leider nicht. Jedenfalls nicht so lange wir warten konnten. Trotzdem der Blick in die Schlucht war schon eindruecklich!
Um 9 Uhr fuhren wir weiter, denn wir hatten noch Einiges vor. Nach 2h Schotterpiste in der Ebene stand ein Pass zur Ueberquerung an. 800 Hoehenmeter Aufstieg bis auf 4000 m ueber Meer - fuer mich trotz halbwegs sportlicher Verfassung eine doch sehr anspruchsvolle Herausforderung, um nicht zu sagen die Hoelle! Als wir mal geraden Rast machten und die Aussicht genossen. Begann ganz in der Naehe eine Schafherde an zu unruhig und laut zu werden. Saul sagte gleich: Da schau: Kondore! Sie keisten gerade ueber den Schafen. So sahen wir die Riesenvoegel also doch noch, bevor wir weiterfuhren.
Die Haelfte des Anstiegs stand immer noch an und der Sattel schmerzte langsam, die Beine wurden schwer und die Luft duenn. Saul mahnte mich immer wider, langsam zu fahren. Doch ich kam mit dem schnelleren Rythmus besser zurecht. Bei der Fuehrungsarbeit befluegelte mich mein Ehrgeiz zusaetzlich und ich konnte meinen eigenen Rhytmus fahren. Damit hatte ich bisher gute Erfahrungen gemacht. Bis 3800 Hoehenmeter gings noch recht gut, doch dann war ich definitiv am Ende. Da half auch die Fuehrungsarbeit nichts mehr. Nur noch schleppend konnte ich Saul folgen. Der wartete jedoch immer wieder auf mich und staerkte mich Zwischendurch mit peruanischen Spezial-Powerriegeln aus seinen Reserven. Eine gute Alternative zum dem Aufstieg gab es nicht und mein Kampfgeist war noch nicht ganz am Ende. So kaempfte ich mich also auch noch die letzte Stunde den Berg hoch. Am Schluss sogar noch zu Fuss ueber Abkuerzungen, waehrend Saul mein Fahrrad schob. Nach gut 4 h waren wir endlich oben: In meinem ganzen Leben war ich noch nie so kaputt. Alles war schwer, ich konnte kaum mehr stehen, musste staendig gaehnen und wollte einfach nur schlafen. Saul erzahlte etwas von Hoehenkrankheit.
Nach einer kurzen Erhohlungspause gings mit Downhill weiter. Auf Grund meiner Verfassung entschied ich mich fuer die Abfahrt auf der breiten Schotterstrasse, statt der anspruchsvolleren Singeltrails. Nach 2 h und einem weiteren kleinen Aufstieg kamen wir dann in einem netten Dort an, wo wir uns gleich als erstes ordentlich verpflegten und danach unser Zimmer in einer Herberge bezogen. Wenig spaeter fiel ich frisch geduscht, erschoepft aber sehr zufrieden ins Bett. Da haben wir ganz schoen was geleistet. Ich war stolz! Doch das war erst der zweite Tag.
Am naechsten Morgen fuhren wir dann mit dem Bus auf einen 4300-Meter-Pass, von wo es ueber Stock und Stein durch einen Art Steppenlandschaft zwischen Kakteen durch runter ins Tal ging. Nach rund 40 km Downhill durch einen wunderschoenen Canyon standen dann noch 60 km Waschbrettpiste durch eine Stein-/Sandwueste an: Kopf runter und durch! Hier half mir der Ehrgeiz, der kampfgeist und das dringende Beduerfniss zu gewinnen - der Racerinstinkt eben - beim durchhalten und vornewegfahren. Aber es war wiederum ein harter Fight, der eigentlich keinen Verlierer sondern nur zwei Sieger hervorbrachte. Um 17 Uhr erreichten wir nach 3 Tagen dann endlich wieder eine Teerstrasse und fuhren von dort im vollen Linienbus zuruck nach Arequipa.
Eine fantastische Tour, durch verschiedenste Gegenden und eindrueckliche Landschaften! Sehr zu empfehlen, auch wenn ich sagen muss, dass diese Tour koerperlich wohl etwas vom Haertesten war, das ich je gemacht habe! Trotzdem eine Supererfahrung. Ich war ja schon immer auf Erlebnisse im Grenzbereich aus und auf diesem Trip stiess ich mit voller Wucht an meine koerperlichen Grenzen.Saul war nicht nur ein guter Tourguide sondern auch ein guter Teamplayer und Freund, die Organisation war fehlerfrei. Vielen Dank!
Tobias Kloetzli
tobiaskloetzli(at)hotmail.com
Schweiz
SALUDOS DESDE MONTREAL
Enero, 2007
Un placer compadre de escuchar de ti. Si estoy bien por aquí, peleando con el frío nórdico. Sigue persistiendo porque solo asi lograras las buenas cosas de la vida. Voy a averiguar lo que me dices y te tendré al corriente con todo esto. Hasta entonces cuidate y suerte en todo lo que ases.
Ciao Sebastián
tinc71(at)yahoo.ca
CANADA
PERU CLASSIC TOUR PACKAGE 15 days
December, 2006
Dear Peru Adventure Team.
I just want to thank you again for everything you did to make my trip to Peru so memorable and truly fantastic. I had a great time and everything went so smoothly. Thanks for your hard work on my itinerary. It was all worth it! :> )
By the way, I have a nice condor photo to send you from our trip to Colca Canyon. I will attach it here for you. It is a young condor in Cruz del Condor. I shot some videotape of an adult male flying right above us over the canyon. It was so amazing for me to see these birds -- a dream come true! Anyway, enjoy and feel free to use the photo for any of your work purposes (e.g., on your website). Let me know if you would like any other photos from my travels with your guides in other parts of Peru or Bolivia (Isla del Sol). You know all the sites I visited, so if there are any in particular you'd like photos of for your work, just let me know.
Feliz Navidad!
Laurel Colton
lmcolton(at)yahoo.com
USA
PERU CLASSIC TOUR PACKAGES 22 days
TOUR GUIDE: Cynthia Morales
August 31th, 2006
Hi Saul.
How are you? We are back home and we have all our photos in our photo album reminding us of our wonderful time in Peru. I really must thank you again for all of your attention and hard work to made the best trip for us. I was so pleasantly surprised by how effortless everything was for us. I hardly had to think at all. You were always there taking care of everything. Cusco was wonderful and Cynthia was great. Noa adored the river rafting and all our transfers, including magical Macchu Picchu, were perfect. The Jungle tour was good too. Again i want to thank you and I would recommend you warmly to anyone.
In the course of our travels we met other travellers whose experiences with guides and packagers were nowhere near as good as ours.
Warmly
Debbie
USA
CHACHANI DOWNHILL BIKING Full day
TOUR GUIDE: Saul Ceron
August 2006
Hola Saul.
I have only just seen your comment on our blog (http://lindfield.motime.com)... 3 months later!.
Now we are back working in the UK, so we don't check the blog very often any more!. But we are still mountain biking very often... hopefully one day we will go back to Peru. You asked for some photos for your website... please find 4 attached for you to use. Good luck with the website and I wish you every success with your business and thanks for the bike tour.
Best regards.
Paul Lindfield
UK
ADVENTURE TOUR OPERATOR IN AREQUIPA
TOUR GUIDE: Carlos Corrales
August 4th, 2006
Dear Saul, Carlos and Dennis. We are now in Peru for 2 1\2 weeks. Until now we liked the Colca Cayon Trek and Salinas salt lake.
COLCA CANYON TREK (3 days): After a beautiful descent on the first day we enjoyed the relaxing hot springs near the river in Llahuar. The people here are very friendly and we liked our bamboo wedding room very much. The fresh trout for dinner was also excellent. On the second day we had an astonishing view on the Canyon.
Following six hours of hiking the spaghetti tasted very well. After a power nap it was a special experience to climb up to Cabanaconde in the dark on the third day (actually the second night). After breakfast in Cabanaconde we were in time for seeing the condors. Carlos (vamos) is a very nice and good guide. Het looked after us very well and learned us a lot about the Colca Canyon, Peru and the Spanish language. It was very luxurious to have a private guide.
SALINAS SALT LAGOON BIKE TRIP (Full day): The mountain bike trip to Salinas and Pichu Pichu Mountain was also breathtaking. The visit to Salinas made this trip more than just a downhill mountain bike trip.
First, we walked around the lake to see the flamingos, Llamas and Alpacas. Second, we enjoyed our biking across Salinas lagoon. After lunch, which was more than just snacks!!, we went down Pichu Pichu. It felt like we were doing the Tour the France since the car was always behind the last biker. Carlos (English speaking guide) and Dennis (German speaking driver) did a great job. They are both open minded, happy and encouraging. They looked after us very well and learned us a lot about the environment and their country. PERU ADVENTURE TOURS and Saul’s team are very good value for money and knew what they were talking about. Highly recommended.
Best wishes.
Jeroen and Edmée
HOLLAND
VOLCAN MISTI; BICICLETA DE MONTAÑA 6 horas
TOUR GUIDE: Carlos Corrales
August 2006.
Estimados amigos.
Como están? Llegue bien a Lima y ahora estoy en mi trabajo. Nunca me olvido de esta aventura, fue una inolvidable experiencia deportiva. Espero volver a arequipa y montaremos de nuevo jejeje. Tengo que agradecer por buena labor del guía y el servicio de PERU ADVENTURE TOURS, fue buena. Ya recomende a mis amigos para esta aventura. Mis amigos limeños y mi familia se asustaron lo de mi brazo. Yo siempre causo accidentes, durante semana santa, fiestas patrias y año nuevo en todo mi cuerpo. El año pasado me queme con radiador del auto desde mi cara hasta mi brazo pero felizmente es 2 grado de quemadura. En año nuevo, me queme mi pie con el carbón de la parrillada despues de beber mucha cerveza (gran borrachera jajaja).
Bueno, te envío estas fotos. Más adelante les daré un video de la experiencia del tour. Espero que pongas estas fotos en tu web para dar a mis amigos y viajen para hacer esta bonita aventura en el volcán Misti. Un abrazo fuerte y saludos desde Lima y Brasil.
Un corazón para todos.
Alejandro Manuel Lopez Florez
ilo8291(at)yahoo.com
BRASIL
DOWNHILL BIKING THE SOUTH SLOPES OF MISTI VOLCANO Half day
DOWNHILL FROM SALINAS LAGOON Full day tour
TOUR GUIDE: Saul Ceron
May 2006
In Arequipa I used PERU ADVENTURE TOURS to go on a couple of mountain biking expeditions. One down the side of Misti which was absolutely fabulous and then used them again to go up to see the active volcano Ubinas and this was stunning. It was good biking and the views were spectacular! Normally I only use tour guides recommended in the guide books but this one is recognized by the footprint Website, not the book as are only a few years old. They were great and the Biking guide Saul Ceron were a considerate and funny person. They are on Jerusalen 401-A but the office is closed to the public during the week. I found out about them on the internet. www.peruadventurestours.com There were good value for money and knew what they were talking about. Highly recommended.
Catherine Pudner
electrolyte40(at)hotmail.com
UK
BIKING TOUR IN AREQUIPA - MISTI DOWNHILL Half day
TOUR GUIDE: Saul Ceron
25/4/2006
I had the best time excellent guide, very professional with great English. You will get whatever you are looking for!.
Ran Segall
ransegall(a)gmail.com
ransegall(a)hotmail.com
ISRAEL
COLCA TREK 3 días
LAGO TITICACA 2 días
MANU 6 días
CAMINO INCA 4 días
7 de Febrero 2006
Querido Saul.
Queremos decirte que estamos contentos con nuestro paso por Perú, y por supuesto con los servicios que tu nos has prestado directamente, tus recomendaciones a la selva del Manu fueron lo mejor, ... Es cierto que el tema de Machu Picchu, por el simbolo nacional que es, debería estar mejor organizado y por supuesto escribiremos al INC con una lista exhaustiva de los puntos inaceptables que deben mejorar.
Por supuesto contamos contigo para nuestro proyecto futuro, porque creemos que eres una persona seria, por tu conocimiento del terreno y porque nos has caido bien, así que nos mantendremos en contacto.
Ahora estamos en Chiclayo, porque finalmente hemos decidido conocer algo del norte de Perú antes de marcharnos y aunque no hay mucho detrekking por aqui pues estamos descansando un poquito.
Cuidate y reciba un gran abrazo.
Alba y Joan
SPAIN
TREKKING IN THE COLCA CANYON 2 days
TOUR GUIDE: Cathy Linares
Nov 16th, 2005
Hi there, I just got back to San Francisco and want to thank you all for your help and having the end of my trip end on a great note. There was some misunderstanding on when and which trek I was going to do because I had to get on the bus to Arequipa but at the end it all worked out which I'm grateful. Kathy was a great guide and I enjoyed our trek and time together. Oh I had accidently left the walking stick on the local bus to Cruz del Condor, I didn't know we were getting off the bus until the bus driver called out the stop and I hurridly got off the office and accidently left the stick on the bus. I sincerely apologize.
Thank you for everything.
Saludos, Flower.
USA
REVIEW OF 3 DAY / 2 NIGHT MT. BIKING TRIP TO ANDAGUA AND CHUQUIBAMBA / MAJES VALLEY
TOUR GUIDE: Saul Ceron
Nov 15th, 2005
This trip consisted of 2 days of downhill Mt. Biking, along with the bus rides before, between, and after.
The first bus ride is around 8 hrs. long and drops you off in the middle of the night, in the middle of nowhere, to get a half night of cold sleep camping at 4,800 mts. But the reward is in the morning, a long scenic bike ride (all leisurely downhill on a dirt road) on a serpentine road to Andagua, without meeting any other tourists, or vehicles for that matter, but you’re sure to see llamas and local people. You can eat lunch in Andagua and then hike around the valley a bit, observing the extinct volcano cones and rims and a great waterfall from above, before catching the return bus to Chuquibamba to sleep in a hostel and shower.
The next day from Chuquibamba to the Colca Valley is again downhill (with some short uphill sections) but is mostly paved, more populated, so there’s more traffic, but I never felt in danger on the road, other than a few barking dogs. This day is not necessarily as scenic or natural as the first, but the scenery changes more and it’s a little more exhilarating with the speed and curves of the flat pavement. This day is much warmer also. At the end of the biking part, there some good lunch options and an interesting tour of Toro Muerto for some ancient stone carvings in a desolate place. The bus that night gets back to Arequipa in the evening.
The two days of biking complement one another well, but as an alternative, one could just do the second day alone, meaning a shorter bus ride there, spending only one night (in a hostel and not having to carry camping gear or cold weather clothes). This seems like the saner option, but the downside is missing out on the rustic road and scenery into Andagua and the Valley of Volcanoes.
Saul is a very good guide in both quality gear and knowledge of the local area and people. If you’re looking for a non-typical tour off the gringo circuit, he’s a great person to consult with. Even if you’re not in for a more remote bus & bike trip and only have a day or half day, there’s some good biking routes just outside of Arequipa for you.
Isaiah Mosteller
tisaiahm(a)yahoo.com
Washington DC.
USA.
CAMINATA EN EL CAÑON DEL COLCA 4 días
TOUR LAGO TITICACA 2 días
TOUR MACHU PICHU 1 días
Agosto 2005.
Hola Saúl, todo corrió muy bien, muchas gracias. La excursión a Colca fué espectacular, nos encantó el paisaje, la excursión hasta las cabañas y el baño en las termas oyendo el río y contemplando las estrellas.
Hacer el recorrido al revés fue un gran acierto, estuvimos sólos, sin ver un turista y eso siempre gusta. Este detalle nos permitió disfrutar de los condores en pleno silencio y en simbiosis total con la naturaleza.
El Lago Titicaca estuvo bien. Las niñas durmieron en una especie de hotel en Amantani pero Paulo y yo tuvimos la suerte de dormir en una familia super humilde pero muy hospitalaria y encantadora y terminamos apadrinando a una de sus nietas. Machu Picchu nos encantó, fué simplemente brutal.
Un cordial saludo.
Bessana.
ESPAÑA
LE MISTI 2 Jours
TOUR GUIDE: Saul Ceron
Voilà c est tout, profitez bien de votre fin de voyage, a oui un dernier truc, si vous voulez faire le Chachani ou le Misti a cote d Arequipa, allez voir l agence PERU ADVENTURE TOURS, leur mail c est: peruadventurestours(a)hotmail.com et le guide s appelle Saul, il est bien cool, dite lui que vous venez de notre part et qu on a fait le Misti fin avril avec lui!..; l agence se trouve dans une rue qui part derrière la cathédrale la ou il y a toutes les autres agences.
Tenez je viens de retrouver leur carte:
PERU ADVENTURE TOURS
Jerusalen 410 - A AREQUIPA
Telef 054 - 221658 - 9938308 -9698171
TREKKING + CLIMBING + CYCLING
www.peruadventurestours.com
info(at)peruadventurestours.com
Sara
www.sarahetmarcoauperou.blog.expedia.fr
FRENCH
CLIMBING COROPUNA MOUNTAIN 6450M 4 days
TOUR GUIDE: Saul Ceron
Jul 11th, 2005
Our 2005 research expedition to the highlands of Peru was made possible thanks to Saul and PERU ADVENTURE TOURS. He organised 4x4 transport, mules to carry our equipment to and from our site, and provided us with the essentials for our trip. We also got to experience many cultural and natural sites of interest along the way that we'd not otherwise have seen. One of the highlights of the whole trip was climbing Coropuna after our work was complete. Saul organised the climb and was a most competent and enjoyable guide. We will certainly be asking PERU ADVENTURE TOURS for their help with the logistics for our future research, and can highly recommend Saul's adventure services.
Cheers Saul!
Gordon, Louis & Kurt University of Maine
gordoyn(at)yahoo.co.uk
USA
DESCENTE DE CHACHANI EN VELO DE MONTAGNE 1 Jour
TOUR GUIDE: Saul Ceron
Montreal Juin 2005.
Après un départ plein d'espoir tôt le matin de l'agence PERU ADVENTURE TOURS on s'est arrête a un petit dépanneur pour quelques provisiones. Sur la route le monde desguste quelque friandises et autres spcialits pruviennes mais plus qu'on montais plus que le paysage devenais intéressant. Entre 2 et 3 bouchées on s'arrêtais pour des photo du spectaculaire volcan Misti qui ns. a accompagne pendant tout le trajet. Quelque Vicuñas avec leurs bébés broutaient paisiblement. A notre arrivée a la station de communication a environ 5700 m. D'alt. Saul notre guide d'un grande savoir et gentillesse ns. A donne quelques bonnes explicationes des règles très importantes du cyclisme extrême et on a entamée notre descente suivi par la jeep qui ns. a monte. Un périple plein d'adrénaline pour les plus fou mais le yang et yang fait qu'en pleine action j'ai perdu le boulon et l'axe de ma roue avant même en aillant le meilleure velo car j'avais simplement oublie de les serer avant mon départ. A ma grande surprise après 15 minutes d'atente la jeep ma rejoin et le guide avais tout ce qu'il faut pour le remplacement des pièces perdues. La descente a été superbe et en arrivant a Arequipa on s'est tous ramasses pour un souper, ou chacun avais au moins 3 anecdotes a raconter. Notre espoir est devenu réalité descendre le volcan Chachani en bike de montagne. Quelle merveille. Merci PERU ADVENTURE TOURS, merci Saul.
Tincau sebastian et Karina
karinam20(at)hotmail.com
CANADA/PERU
TREK EN EL CAÑON DEL COLCA 3 días
13 Jul 2005.
Hola, soy el Frances que esta ido al cañón de Colca con Lizardo y una Suiza hace dos semana.
Le envió este mail para decir que señora Temenuga y yo estamos muy contentos de sus servicios (guia, transporte, comida). Los paisajes fueron muy interesantes y diferentes que los otros que he visto en Perú.
La vuelta que pasa por las aguas calientes en cambio del oasis vale la pena.
Estoy también muy contento de la vuelta turística de 2 días antes del trek con la movilidad privada. Pues estoy esperando que la huelga no sigue en Arequipa y que hay una solución.
Hasta luego.
Denis
denis-Frederic.favre(a)ompharma.com
SWITZERLAND
HIKE IN THE COLCA CANYON 3 days
TOUR GUIDE: Saul Ceron
March 28 2005.
Hola Saul and the team of PERU ADVENTURE TOURS, it has been almost a month now since I'm back in Canada. It was good to be back home but I really missPeru and all the wonderful thing we have seen there. Thank you very much again for everything Saul, the hike in the canyon was one of our highlights of our trip.
Give me some news when you have time, I hope everything is going well with you!
Regards.
Simon.
CANADA
LLAMA TREK 8 day
CLIMB MISTI VOLCANO 2 days
TOUR GUIDE: Saul Ceron
July, 2004
On my trip to Arequipa in 2001, I hooked up with Saul Ceron of PERU ADVENTURE TOURS (peruadventurestours@hotmail.com) because he offered a variation to the standard 2-day/1-night visit to the Colca Canyon. We wanted to hike down into the Canyon for an additional night, which he arranged at a very reasonable fee - for just two of us! He told me then of his 8-day Llama Trek which I finally took him up on this year with a group of 8 friends. The trek consists of a 2-day private van trip to Caylloma via Andagua. The ride is very rough and dusty for about 200 of the 350 miles to Caylloma. However, on the way we stopped to see the Petroglyphs, Inca burial sites and hiked in Valley of the Volcanoes near Andagua. At Caylloma we met our cooks, Llama handlers, 19 Llamas, a mule and a donkey to begin our hike. The animals carry all the gear and the mule is available to carry a person if necessary. Our group really enjoyed being around the Llamas -- they are very alert and curious animals! The environment and scenery changed daily on our way to the Colca Canyon. Some of the days are long and some of the nights quite cold with camps varying from 7,000 to 15,000 feet. Our high pass was about 17,000 feet.Some of our group found this to be a very demanding trek, but no one resorted to riding the mule! I highly recommend spending an extra night or two at the Llahuar Lodge with thermals pools in the Colca Canyon, which is the last night of the trek -- unfortunately we did not do so. It is a comfortable place in a beautiful setting with hot springs that you will truly consider a reward after many hard days of trekking. In fact this would be a great destination for a shorter visit to the Colca Canyon if an 8-day Llama Trek is not of interest.
All things considered, the Llama Trek was the most grueling, but the most unique trek I've done in Peru .While many operators offer Inca Trail, Salkantay, Ausangate, Colca Canyon treks, I've not seen a similar Llama Trek offered by anyone but Saul.So, if you're fit, adventurous, and want to get off the beaten path, this might be a trek for you!
In 2002, I went up El Misti (19,100 feet) with one of Saul's groups. This is a common climb (not technical) offered by many operators. My understanding is that they all do it as a 2-day, 1-night climb. As someone who has been up Kilimanjaro and many in Colorado, I found this to be my most difficult climb - mostly due to the rapid rate of ascent (maybe 8,000 feet in 24 hours?).Still, 5 of us out of 9 in our group made the summit. As I recall, the cost was very reasonable. Saul tells me that climbing Chachani is easier even though it is higher and herefore that is more popular.
Doug Duncan
duncan(at)cannon.net
USA
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