~Updated!~
Discounted
Tours- 
Special Travel Promotions
(Save $'s!)

Fishing

Birding

Cruises

Volcano
Tours

Homepage

Links Page

Site Map

Email Us

Email
Webmaster

October 17, 2010

Hello Arlen, 

I wanted to tell you how wonderful your services were while we visited Peru helped my Judy Martin who organized our trip.  

Your guides were on time and spoke English very well and the drivers were safe and careful.  We had a tour with Edith in Lima, Americo in Cusco and the Sacred Valley and Manuel in Machu Picchu.  They were all good, but I want to single out Americo because he is exceptional.  He spoke beautifully and is well informed on many different topics.  He not only gave a thoughtful tour but he listened and directed his attention to our interests.  After having a health issue he offered to call a doctor for me and was flexible to reschedule our tour to a different day.  

I told him he should be a professor as his knowledge is great and his sense of humor wonderful while always trying to provide great service and care.  

I will highly recommend him when our friends visit Peru.  He is special!  and you are fortunate to have him in your employ.  

Maureen  [Last names withheld in compliance with the LARC privacy policy.] 
 

May 19, 2010

Here is an online photo show of my trip to Peru earlier this month.  

It's about 312 photos - so grab a glass of wine, click "Watch Now" and then
click on the "full screen" icon to get the best views of .....  

Lima, Trujillo, Cusco, Machu Picchu and so much more!  

I hope you enjoy my photos  

Gary Warning [Full name posted with the author's permission.]

Watch Now (Please Note: This link will open in a new browser window.  You may need to turn off your pop-up blocker to open the new page.) 

[This slide show was compiled by Gary Warning who was our guest in Peru in May 2010.]
 

January 23, 2010

Hi Judy, 
Now that we're back and past jetlag, I wanted to let you know how much we appreciate the arrangements you made for us.  Everything went smoothly, Peru was wonderful, the guides and hotels and sites were all terrific. Thanks for another masterful job.  
Best, Ron & Holly  
[Last names withheld in compliance with the LARC privacy policy.]

PS We brought and shared our wine at every restaurant in which we ate and had no problems in opening and sharing our bottles.  Astid & Gaston was particularly great, so we went back our last night in Peru.  
 

[ Judy's Response: ] 

HI RON & HOLLY,

SMASHING!!! SO GLAD TO GET A GOOD REPORT!  ASTRID Y GASTON IS ONE OF MY FAVORITES AS WELL  (DID YOU KNOW THEY ALSO HAVE ONE IN QUITO & ONE IN SANTIAGO AS WELL?)  I AM WORKING NOW ON A TRIP FOR RACHEL & HER FRIENDS TO CHILE & ARGENTINA, SO HOPING THAT WILL GO WELL TOO!  I KNEW YOU WOULDN'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE WINES AT THE RESTAURANTS IF YOU JUST "DID" IT.  THAT IS GREAT!  DON'T LOSE OUR NUMBER AND TELL ALL YOUR FRIENDS ABOUT US! HUGS,
JUDY 
 

May 27, 2009

Hi Judy,

We are back from Peru and Bolivia and we had a fabulous trip .... 
thanks very much for all the assistance!

Some comments:
Country Club Hotel - Lima .... prefer to be in the more active Miraflores area but a lovely hotel Really liked following hotels: Casa Andina Pvt Collection in Sacred Valley; Inkaterra Amazona Reserva; Inkterra Pubelo Hotel in Aquas Caliente Machu Picchu - Absolutely GREAT!!!; both Liberator Hotels in Cusco and Puno; Hotel Europa was an excellent location and worked out well

Catamaran was fun and very nice.

The guides were superb! Johanna in Lima; Christian in Cusco and Machu Picchu and Grace in La Paz

We are thinking about two more trips to Latin America in the next couple of years:

1. Possible family of as many as 12 to Quito, Ecuador, and Galapagos Islands for a total of 7-10 days. Would like to be on a small ship with just our family .... any idea on rough cost to do that?

2. Just Linda and me to visit Brazil, Argentina and Chile ~ 15-17 days ...
maybe 2010/11

Thanks so much,

Alan    [Last name withheld in compliance with the LARC privacy policy.] 
 

[LARC's Response:]

HI ALAN & LINDA,

BLESS YOU FOR THE LITTLE "PICK ME UP" IT'S ALWAYS WONDERFUL TO BASK IN THE
PRAISE! AND BLESS YOU TOO FOR THE POSSIBLE UPCOMING TRIPS, I CAN'T WAIT! 

I REALLY APPRECIATE ALL YOUR COMMENTS, THANKS FOR TAKING THE TIME TO LET US KNOW YOUR FEELINGS, BECAUSE IT HELPS US IN PREPARING ITINERARIES FOR FUTURE PASSENGERS.

FOR THE TRIP TO ECUADOR & GALAPAGOS THERE ARE A COUPLE OF 12 PASSENGER YACHTS THAT WE COULD CHARTER GIVEN ENOUGH LEAD TIME, BUT WHEN WERE YOU PLANNING TO DO THAT?  I CAN PUT AN ITINERARY TOGETHER WITH APROX. COSTS IF I KNOW WHAT MONTH & YEAR YOU WERE CONSIDERING THIS.  I CAN GIVE YOU THE ALMOST SAME TRIP AS JAN & HER HUSBAND HAD. 

FOR THE TRIP TO CHILE & ARGENTINA I ALSO NEED TO KNOW WHAT TIME OF YEAR IN
ORDER TO PUT SOMETHING TOGETHER FOR YOU.

GREAT STUFF! HUGS, JUDY 

October 25, 2008

Absolutely AWESOME service!  The hotels were terrific, the service at each was superb.  We loved Sauce and Prisma.  The Sumaq knocked off our socks and this one alone was probably the best 5-Star I've ever staying in...and I've had a few in my years.  They went out of their way in every respect, including arranging for our tickets for the next day at the park and hand delivering them.  The bus stopping at the front door was an added plus.  Our guide Fernando Alonzo was terrific.  Knowledgeable, cheerful, and most accommodating.  He stuck with us the whole time.  He had tears in his eyes when we graced him with a $400 tip.  It was very touching.  The touring coach was immaculate and beautifully maintained and Alex our driver was superb.  The restaurants included in our package were all top notch.  

Please extend our sincere thanks and admiration to your folks in Peru.  They did an awesome job and you and they will see much more business from us in the future.  As a tourism provider for over 20 years I have a lot more to learn about service as set by the example of the folks in Peru.  WOW!!!  

Thanks Judy. 

[Tom]    [Last name withheld in compliance with the LARC privacy policy.]
 

[Response from LARC:] 

HI TOM  

CAN'T BELIEVE YOU ARE ALREADY BACK! YOU MADE MY DAY! I WILL CERTAINLY PASS ALONG YOUR GREAT COMMENTS TO PERU CHASQUITUR - THERE IS A REASON WE HAVE REPRESENTED THEM FOR OVER TWENTY-SIX YEARS. DON'T LOSE OUR NUMBER FOR YOUR NEXT TRIP! 

BEST RGDS, JUDY

June 30, 2008

Ellie and Judy, 

Just wanted you both to know that Nick and Eleanor got home yesterday, safe and sound. They had a fantastic time in Peru. Nick wished that he could have stayed longer in Peru and is eager to see more of South America. Of
course, there were bits and pieces that, in retrospect, they would have done differently, but, all in all is was really a wonderful experience for them both. Travel and learn, right? During their volunteer weeks they took care
of 1 - 3 year olds. They bonded with the kids and with their working (and very young) parents. Tearful goodbyes.  

Thanks to you both for all of your efforts, energy and help.  I'll send a handful of photos when I get them.  

Best, 

Michael    [Last name withheld in compliance with the LARC privacy policy.]

January 07, 2008

Hi Judy: We returned yesterday from Florida where we spent a few days recovering from our vacation!  

We had a wonderful time and want you to know how happy we were with everything, especially the guides and meets and greets at airports, train, hotel, etc. Everyone was there on time and were extremely professional and competent.  

We also checked out of the Doubletree one night early, so we could return to the US. We were tired and ready to come home, plus New Year's Day things were closed. We did like the J.W. Marriott on the beach as a better choice for location in Lima. There was shopping and it was a very upscale neighborhood.  

We are still telling our friends about Inka Terra. The suite was fabulous and we thank you so much for that wonderful experience. The Royal Palm, La Mirage and El Pueblo were all special in different ways. The staff at La Mirage were extraordinary, friendly, helpful and the Chef was superb! The dinners were all memorable!  

We were OK at Liberador until we went to the Monasterio. Definitely heads above Liberador and we would highly recommend it to our friends.  

All in all, it was great. My husband doesn't know how much it cost, but he is raving that he has never had better treatment anywhere in the world! And whatever it cost, it was worth it!!!  

love and hugs  

Faye M.     [Last name withheld in compliance with the LARC privacy policy.] 

June 11, 2007

Hi Judy, 

Well, I've finally got myself back together after our fantastic trip. I can't possibly thank you enough for making such terrific arrangements for us. It was a special treat to actually meet you in Lima for dinner.  Everything went as planned- which is rarely the case when traveling in remote areas. The people at Chasquitour were wonderful. They even prepared a local foods picnic for lunch one day-instead of sitting in a tourist restaurant. The transfer men knew our faces after the first meeting and it was great to see them at every airport and train station ready to take our luggage. Machu Picchu is every bit as spectacular as you expect, but it is even better! We even had a sunny day. The Galapagos Islands were a wildlife enthusiast's dream. You just can't imagine how up close and personal you get with the animals. We were very impressed with the service on our boat The Eric. Every person knew his job and did it with amazing efficiency.  The food was abundant and delicious. Once again, thank you for making our 40th anniversary such a special celebration.  

Shelly and Les     [Last names withheld in compliance with the LARC privacy policy.] 

May 09, 2007

Judy, 

So much fun meeting you in Lima! Thanks for coming to the airport to greet us.  Also, thanks for putting together a spectacular trip for us.  The air travel and accommodations were just exactly what I had envisioned. From
your first word over the telephone, I knew that I had found the right person to help me plan this vacation to Ecuador and Peru. Your vast knowledge of the countries and your contacts certainly made it easy for us!  

Next on the list? Galapagos?  Puno and Manu’?  Calafate?  The options are endless and I will be in touch with you when the bank account and vacation time replenishes.  (As a matter of fact, I will be in touch with you way
before then!)  I want to see everything there is to see in Latin America.  You will be just the one to help me do that! If I get the chance to refer anyone else to you, I will do handstands and shout cheers on your behalf. 

Please stay in touch and help me retain that Latin magic!  

Muchos Abrazos,  

Michael    [Last name withheld in compliance with the LARC privacy policy.]

December 06, 2006

The Peru leg of the trip was outstanding. The Peru agents did a super job--deluxe personal service. While I know the Sanctuary Lodge and the Hiram Bingham train ride were obscenely expensive, we didn't regret it a bit. It really was a special experience and worth the money. They provided excellent food, lodging and service. I know you've seen Machu Picchu so know how great it is. Since it is the rainy season, we were concerned about the weather, but we actually had sun at Machu Picchu. Well, that is my report, Cindi. Thanks so much for your help with this--everything turned out better than expected.

Janet    [Last name withheld in compliance with the LARC privacy policy.]

May 02, 2006

Dear Judy,

First off, the trip went according to plan perfectly - there were no glitches whatsoever. We were met at the airport or train station at each new stop, by a person who was completely knowledgeable about what we would be doing and when and how, and who ushered us to transportation and guide, and on our way in jig time. The guides were all really good, and very helpful. Thank you very much. The drivers were also quite good, and as you know some of those roads are very challenging to drive.  

There are some observations I'd like to make in hopes they will help you in the future.  

Our trip to Paracas, Ballestos Islands, Ica, and the Nazca lines was without guide, but with two drivers. We were told that the law required two drivers if the drive was to be more than four hours - which the return from Ica to Lima certainly was.  However, the drive from Aeraquipa to Chivay was also more that 4 hours (close to 6 as I recall) and we had a driver and a guide, but not two drivers. It is a small point as there was very little need for a guide in Paracas; the Ballestos boat had an English speaking operator and the Nazca pilots spoke English. The drivers themselves were very personable and helpful taking us to a museum in Paracas and the Paracas National Reserve, neither of which require much explanation. And then, while we waited for the 11:30 flight, they took us to another museum in Ica, which also had English language placards by a good number of the exhibits and to the Oasis in Ica.  

For some reason, the vans we had in Lima and Cuzco were large vans - 15 passenger or so.  Nothing wrong with that, it just seemed a shame to be driving and parking such an oversized vehicle.  

We had some problem with altitude in Machu Picchu and Cuzco, which meant that we were not up to seeing or doing all there was to do.  As you may recall we had intended to spend half of December, all of January and February, and the first week of March at our Condo in Colorado which is at 9800 feet and would have acclimated us, but I took sick and had to return to Washington. So we were not acclimated and the Diamox does not solve all altitude problems.  Jan had caught a bug on the ship that escalated itself into what the Doctor (who our Cuzco contact, Americo, quickly found for us in Cuzco) likened to "walking pneumonia".  So Jan was completely "winded" in the first visit to Machu Picchu, and I made a separate second trip that ended up winding me too. By the time we got to Aeraquipa we were on the mend, and Lake Titicaca did not pose any significant problems.  

The soaring Condors in the Colca Canyon showed themselves just a little after we got there, and then, the guide told us to go to another spot, even though the crowds had gathered about 100 yards from there.  (We are not sure but believe that when the guide disappeared for a moment that she was running down to the bottom of the canyon to let the Condors out of their cages!  Could that be !?!)  Anyway, we had the perfect spot to watch the Condors soar and do their tricks.  A real thrill!  

One thing that, as you may recall, we struggled with in the planning was the schedules of boats and planes at Lake Titicaca.  As far as we could tell when we got there, there are a goodly number of boats that do take tourists out onto the Lake, none of which seemed to be on a schedule but were simply available for charter.  The one we took had no other passengers, and the boatmen would have been willing to bring us back earlier the next day in time to catch the afternoon flight to Lima rather than in the afternoon for the following morning flight.  (They did have a little engine problem a couple of times on the way to Taquille Island, but all went well crossing the Lake to Suasi.) Suasi was a wonderful attractive, peaceful and restful end to our full time trip.  But still we would have liked to have gotten back from Suasi to Lima without the extra night in Puno.  What we did was in accordance with the final plans, but in retrospect we think it would have been possible to schedule it the way you had originally laid out. The extra night and half day in Lima would have been nice.  The next time you schedule anyone to Suasi, you might want to press this issue a little more. My impression is that people you deal with in Lima or Puno tend to go back to the same people they have worked with before, and that in the process they do not search as hard as they might for a better plan. Incidentally, we met the Puno boss, who did not speak English, but we asked through the guide if he had been involved in the planning of our trip.  He may not have understood us, or we may have misunderstood him, but he said he had not had anything to do with the planning.  This is not to complain, because we did everything according to your well thought out plan - this is to suggest that you might be able to do even better for others in the future, if you get your Peru (Lima or Puno) contact to press a little harder.  

We had a great time, guides were wonderful, hotels fine and very convenient, three of them, Oro de Leon in Lima, Suasi and Aeraquipa, extra special nice.  

Many thanks for all your help, and best regards  

Jan and Ed T.      [Last name withheld in compliance with the LARC privacy policy.]

November 21, 2005

Hi - thank you so much for organizing our trip. It was fantastic! Everything that you organized for us went perfectly. Our luggage did not arrive in Cuzco, and there were "issues" at the airport in Lima - I don't know what we would have done without the guides. They fought the airlines for us, managed to retrieve our luggage and had it waiting for us when we returned from Machu Picchu. The guide in Cuzco lent my son some of her son's clothes. Everything else went smoothly. Thanks again!

Sandy M.  [Last name withheld in compliance with the LARC privacy policy.]
 
 
Judy's (of LARC) response: 

THANKS SO MUCH SANDY!

YOU MADE MY DAY!

 

April 21, 2005

Judy,

We are back from Peru. Other than the slight hiccup on the return Galapagos flight, everything came off flawlessly. We actually got on the flight, although it was uncertain until we got to the airport. The Royal Palm has a lot of clout at the airport and with TAME.

Your colleagues in Lima, and Cusco were very helpful. And, we particularly liked Lucretia, our guide in Cusco/Machu Picchu. Both of us got the bug for 24 hours during the trip, but it didn't slow us down.


Thanks so much for your help in planning and pulling together the trip. You were very enjoyable to work with. I think we will return to South America in the coming years and we will certainly call you when we do.

Regards,

Dan   [Last name withheld in compliance with the LARC privacy policy.]

[Response from Judy at LARC below: ]

HI DAN,

THANKS FOR THE REPORT. I WAS TRACING YOUR EVERY STEP FROM HERE. THE NIGHT WE SPOKE WHEN YOU WERE IN GALAPAGOS, I CALLED PERU TO HAVE THEM LET ME KNOW WHEN YOU ARRIVED, WHEN I RECEIVED THE CALL, YOU CAN IMAGINE MY RELIEF! ALLS' WELL THAT ENDS WELL!

I LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR NEXT TRIP TO S.A. BEST RGDS, JUDY

January 14, 2005

Hi Judy,

Audrey and I want to thank you for all the hard work and effort you put into making our holiday in the Galapagos Islands so wonderful. The Royal Palm Hotel was fantastic and the people were so nice and friendly they couldn't do enough for us. We would have to say that it was by far the best place we visited and will always treasure the memories we have of the place and not forgetting the people.  Everything went according to plan and the flights with TAME were great.  If we were thinking of doing more Latin American holidays say Peru / Machu Picchu / Inca Trail would you be able to help us with that. Let me know as we would have no hesitation in dealing with you again.  Hope this note finds you well and eagerly looking forward to 2005.

All the very best,

Wilma/Audrey from Scotland  [Last names withheld in compliance with the LARC privacy policy.]