4.7 Stars (4482 reviews)
A fantastic itinerary indeed, we experienced so much of New Zealand's South Island with this well thought out trip which included spectacular hiking, biking and kayaking. Our guides were exceptional, incredibly detail oriented and took great pleasure in sharing this wonderful country with our group.
Ultimate South Island Adventure, January 1970
4.7 Stars (4482 reviews)
Excellent, the trip of a lifetime!
Ultimate South Island Adventure, January 1970
4.7 Stars (1778 reviews)
My trip, Machu Picchu and Amazon was "beyond wonderful." Was first trip with AA, and will not be the last. From start to finish GustavoM took excellent care of us, always keeping us updated and informed of what will be taking place. He took each and every one of us under his arm, watching and asking about where we were in the moment. His keen sense of humor added to his jovial personality and I felt like "family." Active Adventures immersed us in the Cusco and Andean culture and I fell in Love with the Peruvian people, their intense work ethic, their strong faith, the love of their Peru, and the stronghold of their communities. Machu Picchu was far beyond my expectations and is truly difficult to capture the awe, wonder and spirit of this sacred place. Wilson, our guide, poured his heart and soul into our tour and the spirit and legacy of the ancient Incas was experienced with a sensation of vitality and presence. And just as awe inspiring as Machu Picchu, the hike on the Lares trek held more wonder and beauty than I expected. I am 67 and the hike was a challenge for me but with perseverance and encouraging words from Gustavo and the group, I did amazingly well. Our porters had our campsite ready and the food was outstanding (and for me too much) both on and off the trail. And the hot packs given to keep us snuggly and warm did just that on the cool nights.
The Amazon trek was filled with animals, birds in their natural habitat and our guide was filled with such knowledge about each and every one. The boat ride was both relaxing to the body and the eyes, especially the early morning cruise to view the hundreds of Macaws and Parrots that were so very plentiful and so colorful.
My travel partner, Moriah, and I pretty much had the perfect experience. Weather was perfect, our lodging always updated (even the camping tents and "banos") the hotel rooms so very clean, updated with hot showers. The food was exceptional, and the company and our guides, GustavoM and Salvador, the greatest!!
There is a spirit and vitality in this part of Peru that I carried back home with me. I hope to always carry this in my heart and soul and Active Adventures made this all possible!!!
Machu Picchu & Amazon Adventure, January 1970
4.7 Stars (1139 reviews)
The trip was amazing with great food, amazing views, and challenging hikes (emphasis on this). Our tour guide Alviro was amazing and treated us with the utmost kindness and flexibility. We had great weather but expect close only a quarter of the time to have great weather.
PRO
the trip was 100% of what was described in the itenirary
the hikes are very very epic with amazing views at the end
the food in chile and argentina was honestly amazing (all the meat!)
the guides will 110% take care of you and make sure you get through every hike - I was often in the last half and they always set aside time for us to get to the viewpoint and get back in time. They also help you get all the good angles and rest spots every 45 min as well as tell you which parts of the hike are challenging
CONS
this is rated 3-4, the same as Rimu but this is admittedly more challenging.
these are more of expectations but it's harder to get epic pictures - it is not the guide nor the tour's fault but it isn't like New Zealand where you can just stop and get a shot. A lot of places require you to hike up quite a bit above the tree line to see the mountains if weather is permittingly good. A good "perfect" photo is hard to find on this trip vs something like the Rimu trip.
another expectation, but the W-trek option can be difficult if you haven't really hiked 10+ miles/10 hours a day or are a super experience hiker or are not used to carrying heavy weight. It is completely doable once you realize it is mostly mental vs physical. I was one of the youngest people in my group and people older than me were much better hikers than me.
Some of the day hikes can also be equally difficult with minimal weight with water and just your phone and protective layers.
The bike ride on gravel can also be a bit challenging if you don't have mountain biking experience - the description didn't accurately describe the skills for going uphill and downhill - or if you have previous injuries that can be reactivated on the 2 hour ride.
If you finish the trip, expect something to be sore. I recommend taping your feet or having adequate protection to prevent foot blisters or whatnot. The sun is very very bright at this altitude so sunblock isn't a suggestion but a requirement as I found out.
All in all I would 110% recommend this vacation, but to temper expectations if you came from the Rimu tour or something 'easier'. I would defintely rate this a 3 and not the 3-4 and feel the description could be more accurate. I really did enjoy this trip and recommend it to someone looking for a physical challenge in Patagonia along with some great photo opportunities.
Patagonia Hiking Adventure, January 1970
4.7 Stars (49 reviews)
Good, really enjoyed it
Classic Iceland Adventure, January 1970
4.8 Stars (387 reviews)
Excellent, the trip of a lifetime!
New Zealand Walking Adventure, January 1970
4.7 Stars (217 reviews)
Good, really enjoyed it
Tour Du Mont Blanc, January 1970
4.7 Stars (4482 reviews)
The guides for our adventure were great Ruby and Liana were professional and knowledgeable. Awesome! This was the first time I have been to New Zealand it was first on my bucket list. Birthday wishes to me my 65th birthday came on Oct 10th so I got to spend it twice USA and NZ time. Liana showed she could cook (or bake) by making me a cake. Ruby was a great driver and showed it because we went into the great places in New Zealand.
The things I did not like about the trip were few. The bus driving was long... We did not get into the Maori view of life enough to satisfy me Native Americans fascinate me. Lack of men on the trip I was the only one. The major item the lack of backpacking/tramping on Nelson Lakes due to snow. Was really disappointing.
The things I liked are many! Have never been to NZ before and I loved it that Active Adventures sampled the south island. Nelson Lakes, Franz Josef glacier, Queenstown, Milford Sound and Aoraki/Mt Cook were all great! The weather was unbelievable two days rain in two weeks. Especially liked the hotels we stayed in they were clean and Liana/Ruby made great food! Milford Sound was unbelievable the snow we had the night before made the peaks sparkle. Aoraki was beautiful and I have never been on a steeper hike over 30% grade but the views sublime.
Had a great time on this adventure. Hope the other people had as well. Ruby and Liana you are great!
Bill Bunker
Ultimate South Island Adventure, January 1970