Our Traveler Reviews

Dear Kim, We returned home early this morning from an absolutely fabulous trip to Lima, Cusco, and Machu Picchu that you prepared for my wife and me and our grandson Liam.  From the time we exited the Lima airport last Wednesday night until we flew out of the Cusco airport last night, SA Expeditions expertly handled every aspect of our excursion.  The guide who picked us up at the airport in Lima at midnight on the night of our arrival, gave us excellent pointers and recommendations about Peru and specifically Lima.

Every hotel that you selected for us in Lima, Cusco, and Aguas Calientes was superb.  Every tour that you arranged for us in each of those areas was interesting to Liam, as well as Grandma and Popa.  You made certain that interspersed with Inka history there were adequate activities that you knew would fascinate a 13-year old boy.  A really big hit was the chocolate tour were we learned about the process of making chocolate, from the harvesting of the cocoa bean to making our own chocolate candy, which we were able to bring home with us. 

Percy, our tour guide in Lima, was quite knowledgeable, and gave us a very good overview of the history of Lima in the short time we were there.  The tour of the Museo Larco, where Percy was able to distill the 45,000 Inka artifacts into a visit that all 3 of us enjoyed, was the highlight of our Lima visit.  Lima is definitely a city we wished we would have had more time to explore further.

Of course, the highlight of our trip was the visit to Cusco and Machu Picchu, and we could not have asked for a better guide than Johan Sueros and our very skillful driver, Abel.  Shortly prior to leaving on our journey when you sent us our final itinerary, you told me that we were going to have the absolute best guide, Johan.  You could not have been more accurate.  He is bright, articulate, totally fluent in English, kind and just an altogether sweet person.  On the drive from Cusco to Aguas Calientes we stopped by a small town, Maras, where we visited an acquaintance of Johan's, a 92-year old man who has been hand-making hats for more than 40 years.  What an absolutely delightful man and very fun visit, where we tried on some of the typical hats of Maras.

Johan is passionate about his Incan heritage, and he brought Machu Picchu and the Incan culture alive for us.  He was totally flexible, and gave us options when he realized that perhaps the long climb up the nearly 1000 steps of the very steep mountain for the best view of Machu Picchu might be difficult for us.  He wanted us to be happy and to enjoy our visit. I realize that he has been doing this for a number of years, but Johan has an uncanny ability to time things so perfectly, that there is very little down time, where you are waiting for a bus or a train.  When he says you'll be at a restaurant at a specific time or back in Cusco at a specific time, you can count on it.  He tried and succeeded in satisfying all of our needs.

As you know, on our last day in Cusco, Liam was ill, and we needed to cancel  horseback riding that we had scheduled for that morning.  Even though we had already said our good-byes to Johan the night before, I contacted him around 8:30AM to cancel the tour.  He immediately got in touch with you, at 5:45AM PST.  Within in minutes you had everything under control, inquiring if we needed a physician to see Liam.  Fortunately, I think he was just exhausted, and by the afternoon he was back to himself.  However, mid-morning I received a phone call from your local representative in Peru inquiring about Liam's health, again offering a physician if needed, and offering to contact the hotel in Cusco to extend our check-out time.

Kim, as you remember, we had some very specific issues that you had to address before we even left for our trip.  You had to be certain that any provided meal, be it box lunch (which was excellent), or lunch on the road, or dinner in Aguas Calientes, had to be vegetarian.  You had to make certain that we returned from zip lining by a specific time on Friday afternoon.  Several days before we were scheduled to arrive, I changed our itinerary to add an additional day in Lima.  You handled each and every request expertly.

I found SA Expeditions in July, 2016, just by searching the internet for companies that provided tours in Peru.  I read the reviews on the company, and was impressed, but also a bit skeptical.  After all, I was trusting a company in California that I didn't personally know to plan and execute a trip to Peru that wasn't going to take place until February, 2017.  Well, now I am a believer!  You, SA Expeditions, the guides, the drivers, the hotels, the tours, etc. have all exceeded our expectations.  Thank you!

With sincere appreciation,

- Eddie & Shelley S (Connecticut)
Photographed at Machu Picchu

Jeanie: Our trip was absolutely magical thanks to all the great organization, preparation, wonderful suggestions and impeccable professional services we received from SA...starting and ending with you! The booking process was so easy, all questions along the way were addressed and SA (you) were responsive to all of our questions and concerns. In addition, some of the suggestions for out of the ordinary experiences made our trip unique. SA is one of the few tour groups that allows you to book your itinerary exactly as you want it...then Jeanie takes care of all the details. I only wish you were world wide!!!!!!

Our hotels were fantastic...our favorite was Inka del Tambo in Urubamba which is truly one of the nicest hotels in the world...what a great way to start our trip and unwind a luxury hotel in such a beautiful Sacred Valley setting.. Casal del Sol had a wonderful location in Aguas Client and though it was in need of some "polish" the staff compensated by their ever willing hospitality. I got sick 3/4 of the way up Wayna Picchu ( not the ideal location to contract intestinal illness) but made it back to hotel ...the staff went to the store to buy me gatorade, made me special tea a and looked in on me in my room for the day and a half I was in bed. The view of the river was a great distraction. Casa Cartegna was a jewel in the middle of lovely Cusco. Again the staff made me home made chicken noodle soup to get me well. Our room was so comfortable and the grounds are an oasis in the city. The spa was terrific as was the masseuse. Our Radisson in Miraflores was a perfect location for touring Lima and was most accommodating as well. In addition the food was fantastic....we ate such beautiful vegetables, potatoes and Peruvian dishes everywhere we went. Le Soleil (french food in Cusco and Cicciolina in Cusco were fabulous as was an extraordinary evening at La Barra Casa Moreyra. in Lima....wow!

Even though there were unforeseen circumstances such as a protest that shut down all tourist roads throughout the Sacred Valley, SA tours reacted with quick response. I cannot say enough about the drivers ( Louis especially) and all the guides who were with us . They were knowledgeable, gracious, always willing to go the extra distance and warm lovely friends. We loved them all. The horse back/hiking trip to Choquechaca was an experience we will never forget. It was Peter's 65th birthday in Cusco and SA even arranged to have the meal paid for by our thoughtful children.

In short, it was the best trip we have experienced and we look forward to many more! Thanks so much for creating a truly memorable experience...we only regret we did not get to meet you in Lima!

- Pam and Peter C. (Denver, Colorado)
Photographed at Machu Picchu

On a "snow day" last February we decided to plan a big summer vacation for our family of four (my wife, two daughters ages 13 & 9, and myself). We had the itch to do something adventurous and looked into Africa, Alaska, Thailand and the Galapagos Islands. All are on our travel list but the timing didn't seem quite right for any of them. When investigating the Galapagos, we stumbled into the SA Expeditions website, which is when we first considered going to Peru. The more we researched, the more it seemed right. We could see wildlife in the Amazon, which was our girls' #1 priority, and we could take in some history, culture and natural beauty during visits to Cusco and Machu Picchu (which is not only on the travel list, but also on the "bucket list").

We sent a message to SA and within minutes we were on the phone with Staci Steele. Staci was incredibly helpful in mapping out a trip that met all of our time and budget constraints while making sure to maximize our opportunity to see as much of Peru as possible. The trip and using SA were both huge leaps of faith for us, as we had never used a tour company and had only traveled internationally twice as a family (fairly tame trips to London and Costa Rica). Staci was incredibly patient in answering our never-ending questions, right up until the day of the trip!

SA added so much value to the planning process. Staci recommended that we spend a day in the Sacred Valley instead of going straight from Cusco to Machu Picchu, and that was an amazing experience that we would have missed had we planned the trip ourselves. She lined us up with a tour guide, Mary-Luz, who felt like a member of the family by the time we said goodbye. Every detail was accounted for. Whether it was being handed our boarding passes for our Amazon flight when checking into our Lima hotel, or having our bags waiting for us at the Aguas Calientes train station for our return to Ollyantaytambo (I could go on an on with examples like this), we never had to think about anything, we just had to follow the plan and enjoy ourselves. The trip was absolutely flawless and we were really blown away by the whole experience. We would not even consider using a different tour provider if (when!) we someday return to South America.

As for Peru itself, we fell in love with it. It is a beautiful country with beautiful people. The weather in July was fantastic and the culture and history were fascinating. We will return someday (maybe to do the Inca Trail!). Thank you Staci and SA Luxury expeditions for helping us pull of an once-in-a-lifetime experience. 

- Bill, Marissa, Julia & Natalie R. (Scarborough, Maine)
Photographed at Moray Ruins in Cusco

Gina Alman from South American Expeditions planned our most INCREDIBLE and FASCINATING five week journey to Peru and Ecuador in May, 2015. Together we detailed the kind of trip we wanted and then Gina set it in motion. Her attention to detail is beyond extraordinary. She worked diligently and spent many hours on the phone with us to insure that our trip would be exactly what we wanted. Machu Picchu was on our bucket list and it was an awesome experience to witness one of the great wonders of the world!!

Gina is extremely knowledgeable, delightful, committed to please, and completely understand how we like to travel. And our trip turned out to be even more spectacular than we anticipated!!! It was packed with adventure, luxury, education, and philanthropy. We enjoy bringing children's books with us and bringing these books to local communities. Gina researched and arranged for us to meet with a gentleman in Cuzco who has built 200 schools in Peru. Mr. Meekes met us and brought us to visit children in Cuzco who were part of his HoPe Foundation. It was one of the most rewarding days of our trip (see photo at Biblioteca Kallpanchis)!!

We have traveled all over the world and there is no question that SA Expeditions goes beyond your expectations in meeting your destinations, budget, style of travel, and customizing your trip to be the very best ever!

- Marilyn and Don, (Delray Beach, Florida)
Photographed at Cuzco

The trip was great – We were a little nervous about how everything would work but everything went very smoothly. It actually set a new standard for what I would want on a vacation. I felt a little spoiled because everything was taken care of and I didn't have to worry about anything – just enjoy. Everyone we met was very professional, solicitous, helpful and informative. The hotels you recommended were great. We loved all the hotels. I don't think we would change a thing. In fact, I think the schedule worked well. We went to Cusco, the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu at the beginning – which kept us pretty busy. Then we went spent 3 days and 2 nights at the Hacienda Concepcion in Puerto Maldonado which was very nice because everything was right there and even though the jungle activities kept us busy, we had a time to relax a bit in the very nice cabana – I rested in the hammock looking out on the jungle scenery. I also want to give a special shout out to Marco, who was with us for 3 days. He is terrific, very easy going and really made our trip through Cusco, the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu. He was also great on the Huayna Picchu Hike. Having him as a guide on the hike was very comforting. Then on our drive back to Cusco, he stopped so we could get a view of the stars and milky-way.

Thank you for putting together this wonderful family trip for us. I would definitely recommend SA Expeditions and would use it again for my travels to South America. 

- Tasia, Harley, Shane, Molly (Maryland)
Photographed at Sacsayhuaman

When we began research on a trip to Peru including the Amazon, Cuzco and Lima, we found a number of options online. We were impressed with the information provided on the SA Expeditions website. I decided to contact SA Expeditions, research/investigate their history as a business, reputation, reviews, etc. Ms. Gina Allman was incredible helpful and responsive and answer all our questions. We were afraid of booking online with an unknown company and the service/or lack of and overall traveling experience in a country like Peru. BTW, I was born and lived in Peru for almost 30 years and moved to the US approximately many years ago.

We stayed in Lima for three days visiting my father. The hotel in Miraflores was great, the food unbelievable.......simply best in the world!! Then, we flew to Puerto Maldonado (the Amazon Rainforest). We were received at the airport and taken by canoe to The Posada Amazonas/Boutique, a 30-45 minute ride in the Tambopata river. We experienced the hospitality of Eric, the Posada's manager and his entire team. Rodolfo, our guide displayed great knowledge throughout all activities and excursion. They kept us busy, the food was extremely good, and the room was very clean. Everybody was extremely helpful and worked hard to make sure we had the best experience. After The Amazon we went to Cuzco, The Archaeological Capital of the Americas. We visited Ollantaytambo, Koricancha, Moray, Sacsahuaman, and Machu Picchu. Best part of the trip. We were greeted by Froylan at the airport, very well spoken, extremely professional, courteous and efficient. He stayed at the airport on our way back to Lima until our departure.

A special note about our extremely knowledgeable guide Marco (the most of all guides). A special mention to Aranwa Cuzco / Luxury Hotel, great customer service and very attentive. And please let's not forget our driver Antonio, very good driver, calm, punctual and professional. Everything was perfect from start to finish with this vacation; from flights (LAN PERU - provided remarkable and friendly service) being on-time, to our personal tour guides their knowledge, punctuality, and dedication, to our accommodations. The trip of a lifetime!! 

- Cathy and Javier (Miami, Florida)
Photographed at Sacred Valley

Rachel and I can say that the “father/daughter Galapagos & ultimate Peru expedition” was a terrific success. After having fiddled with the complicated itinerary for so many weeks, I wondered if it would all work out as planned. But it did! Every connection, every reservation, every guide and activity turned out as described on the final itinerary. We had a wonderful, eye-opening adventure, with knowledgeable, solicitous, very helpful guides, and even a day all to ourselves in Cuzco, a day to wander and enjoy that Rachel says was her favorite one of the trip.

Our guide in the Galapagos, Pablo, was a sweetheart. I loved that he was an island-born Galapagoan. Everything was delightful and amazing except for the very rough boat trip from Santa Cruz to Isabela and back. Motion sickness pills were essential. Hacienda Conception was perfect for us, a great place for getting a first taste of the jungle. Everything from the din of the howler monkeys to tiny trails made by the leaf-cutter ants. Terrific sunsets over the Madre de Dios river. Be warned to keep all medications in airtight container. Humidity will disintegrate them. A note on “Amazon lodge” baggage. Although advised in the itinerary to do so, we did not leave our luggage in Puerto Maldonado, taking “only the essentials” to the lodge. They told us it was fine to take everything along, and we really liked having all our stuff with us at the Lodge.

Our Inca Trail guide, Milagros, was great, and made everything come off like clockwork. The Trail itself was harder than I expected, but I had been warned, and wanted to do it anyway, and we did make it. And I think it's good to have to do a little work to experience such a breathtaking place. A great trip. Thanks for all your work. 

- Bob and Rachel B. (San Francisco, California)
Photographed at Galapagos Islands

My wife & I booked a 2-week vacation in Peru & Ecuador with SA Expeditions and it was incredible. I can't say enough good things about our experience! We made our own arrangements for traveling to and from Lima, Peru, and our last 3 nights in Lima, but SA Expeditions handled all the rest.

Our first night was at the Costa del sol Wyndham at the Lima International Airport. After we cleared customs the hotel was a short walk directly across the street from the international terminal. The room was nice and clean and just what we needed after a full day of travel from our home in Las Vegas. The best part was no cab ride! The next morning we walked back across the street for our flight on Avianca Airlines to Guayaquil, Ecuador. After clearing customs, we were promptly met by Kristin from SA and driven to the Oro Verde Hotel in downtown Guayaquil. She was very pleasant and very helpful pointing out some points of interest in the city to visit and recommending some restaurants to us. The Oro Verde Hotel was magnificent! I travel for work and stay in a lot of hotels and the Executive Suite at the Oro Verde is one of the finest rooms in which I have ever stayed. My wife is not easily impressed and she was extremely impressed. The service, the food, the amenities….they were all wonderful! We both wished that we had had more than night at this hotel. For dinner that night, we took Kristin's recommendation of Caracol Azul about 2 blocks from the hotel. The service and food were excellent! The next morning we were met in the lobby by Francisco, another SA employee, and driven to the airport for our flight on Avianca to the Galapagos Islands. Francisco walked us right through Avianca check-in avoiding the lines. He could not have been more helpful.

When we arrived in the Galapagos Islands, we were met at the Baltra Airport by representatives of the Galapagos Legend Cruise Ship, put on a bus for a short ride to a ferryboat & ferried out to the Galapagos Legend, our home for the next 5 days. The ship's representatives took our luggage at the airport and delivered it to our suite onboard the Legend. We never had to touch our bags after we cleared security on Baltra. Onboarding the ship was a truly hassle free experience.

The Legend is a small cruise ship holding about 100 passengers. There are no really large, luxury cruise ships operating in the Galapagos. Cruising in the Galapagos is an adventure cruise and not a luxury cruise. With that said, our two bed suite with a private balcony on the Legend was very nice and suited our needs perfectly. The staff was very helpful and the food was good. The guests were broken down into groups of about 14 and assigned to a National Park Guide for all activities in the Galapagos Islands. You can do nothing in the Galapagos Islands without a National Park Guide. Day One consisted of lunch on the ship followed by our first adventure in the Galapagos, a zodiac excursion in Black Turtle Cove, which is part of Santa Cruz Island. It was a bird lover's paradise with only a couple of sightings of sea turtles.

The next 3 days consisted of hiking & snorkeling each morning and each afternoon in our assigned groups. We even had a National Park Guide with us for snorkeling. Day One was Sullivan Bay & Isabela Island in the morning and Rabida Island in the afternoon. Day Two was Urbina Bay & Isabela Island in the morning and Tagus Cove & Isabela Island in the afternoon. Day Three was Espinoza Point & Fernandina Island in the morning and Vincent Roca Point & Isabela Island in the afternoon. We sailed that night back to Baltra & Santa Cruz Islands. We disembarked the Legend after breakfast on Day Five and were taken to the highlands of Santa Cruz Island for a hike among giant land tortoises followed by a bus ride to the ferry port on Santa Cruz and then ferried over to Baltra for the flight back to the mainland. Again at disembarkation, our luggage was handled by representatives from the Legend and was waiting for us at the airport for check-in after our hike in the highlands. What can I say about the Galapagos…walking in the footsteps of Charles Darwin, seeing amazing wildlife & fauna and swimming with countless kinds of fish, incredible numbers of turtles and a few sea lions, sand sharks & stingrays….it was a once in a lifetime experience. The Galapagos Legend & SA Expeditions made it so easy to experience and enjoy the Galapagos Islands.

After the Santa Cruz Highlands adventure, we flew on Avianca back to Lima by way of Guayaquil and another night at the Costa del sol Wyndham. The next day we had a morning flight on Avianca to Cusco. When we arrived in Cusco, we were promptly met by Jacquelin, another SA employee. She escorted us to the JW Marriott Hotel and assisted with our check-in. She informed us that we had the afternoon free to explore or rest as we saw fit and that the next morning we would be met by Marco, our tour guide for the rest of our time in Cusco & Macchu Picchu. We were ready for a rest after all the travel and the action packed schedule in the Galapagos Islands. Again, SA Expeditions arranged for the JW Marriott Cusco to provide us with another lavish suite on the top floor for the next two nights! The service and food at the Marriott was top notch!

After breakfast the next day, we went down to the lobby early and Marco was already waiting for us. Marco and his driver, Alberto, were the surprise highlights of our entire trip! Marco's knowledge of Peruvian history especially that of Cusco & Macchu Picchu was extraordinary. Alberto was a courteous and able driver. They were both true gentlemen and a joy to be around. We were scheduled for a half-day tour of Cusco and the surrounding area including the ruins of Sacsaywaman. Unfortunatley, after Sacsaywaman my wife was not feeling good from being at an altitude of over 11,000 feet for more than 24 hours. Marco arranged for Alberto to drop us off at the Temple of the Sun and then take my wife back to the hotel to rest. Marco & I spent more than half a day visiting several churches built on top of ancient ruins and other areas inside Cusco. He then escorted me back to the hotel. On the way back, he treated me to the best street tamales in Cusco. He introduced me to an elderly lady who sits in a shaded area just off the main square in Cusco selling her delicious tamales. Without Marco, I never would have experienced the best tamales in Cusco!

The next day Marco and Alberto were waiting for us in the hotel lobby at 7:00 am. We left for a tour of the Sacred Valley between Cusco and Ollantaytambo. The ride from Cusco to Ollantaytambo is normally just over two hours. However, we made stops to explore the salt mines of Maras and the pre-Incan & Incan ruins at Morey, two very fascinating places along the way. The trip is a descent in altitude and by the time we got to Ollantaytamba, my wife was starting to feel better from her altitude sickness. We had a wonderful lunch in Ollantaytamba at one of Marco's favorite restaurants. Marco also treated us to a tour of a private residence of some friends of his that was truly fascinating. Two women and a girl were washing clothes by hand outside the residence. They invited us inside their one room residence with a loft and gave us a look at how Peruvian people of this mountain region live. Their beds, a cooking fireplace, an altar for worship and an area for the handicraft work were all in a single room. It was a very colorful and cozy place filled with local aromas. Afterwards we toured the pre-Incan & Incan ruins just outside the city. At around 3:30 we left Alberto behind and boarded the train from Ollantaytambo to Macchu Picchu. The two-hour train ride is along a roaring river through a narrow mountain valley and canyon. It's an incredibly scenic ride. It reminded my wife and me of the Colorado River running through Glenwood Canyon in Colorado. Upon our arrival that evening, Marco escorted us to the El Pueblo Hotel located on the outskirts of town in a tropical rainforest area. He agreed to meet us in the lobby at 6:00 am the next morning for our journey to the ancient ruins of Macchu Picchu. The El Pueblo Hotel is another superb hotel. The rooms are quaint but nicely furnished with a wood burning fireplace and a private veranda enveloped by plants and trees. It is by far the nicest hotel in town and it even has its own restaurant. The staff was very accommodating and the service and food in the restaurant were excellent.

The next day Marco was waiting for us in the lobby at 6:00 am. He escorted us through town to the bus station. He moved us ahead of lines to a shorter line where we boarded a bus for the 45-minute ride up to the Macchu Picchu Park Headquarters and the entrance to the ancient ruins. We entered the park and made the short climb up to the main gateway into the plaza of the ruins. At that point, Marco suggested that we not head directly into the plaza of the ruins but that we go to the left and continue climbing higher up into the terraces above the plaza. We made a fairly strenuous climb for about 20 minutes up terraced mountain slopes to the upper terrace with clear vistas in 3 of the 4 directions. Before us and below was a magnificent view of the stone ruins, the green, grassed plaza and terraces and the two peaks that serve as a backdrop to all of it. To our left and our right in the distance were snow-capped peaks of the Andes. We could have gone higher up the Inca Trail to the Sungate or we could have gone right towards the Inca Bridge but we chose to stay right there on that upper terrace with it's magnificent views. Marco was right. Everybody seemed to be down below. There was hardly anybody up where we were. It was peaceful and quiet. The perfect place to sit and meditate or pray and take in all that Macchu Picchu had to offer. We spent over two hours in that serene place before the hordes started to ascend to where we were. Those two hours were the highlight of our Macchu Picchu experience. We eventually descended and enjoyed the rest of Macchu Picchu but nothing compared to the time we had up above in the early morning. Thank you, Marco! Our experience of Macchu Picchu would not have been the same without you. And thank you too for being so patient with us and helping Marsha with her bag and the climb.

By 1:00 pm we were back in the town and Marco took us to his favorite restaurant, Indio Feliz Bistro. WOW….what a great meal! It was the best food in our entire trip. Owned by a French born gentleman named Patrick, the food and the service were both superb. Indio Feliz Bistro would be successful in any town in the world but to find it in this little town was a real surprise. If you went to Macchu Picchu and didn't eat at Indio Feliz, you missed a real highlight! Again, thank you, Marco! Our experience of Macchu Picchu would not have been the same without you. At 3:30 we were on the train back to Ollantaytamba. When we arrived two hours later, there was Alberto waiting to help us with our bags and drive us back to Cusco. We were back at the JW Marriott in Cusco in about 3 hours because of traffic. Marco & Alberto helped us with our bags and check-in. Then we shared some sad “goodbyes” with Marco. His time with us had come to an end. We have traveled to many parts of the world and have had tour guides in many different countries. With Marco we never stood in line to buy a ticket. He had pre-purchased tickets for everything that we did thereby avoiding all the lines. He also had a sense for when to provide us with the history before our eyes and when to leave us to our own thoughts and devices. He could not have been kinder or gentler with my wife when she was suffering from altitude sickness. When it comes to photography, Marco knows the best locations for photo opportunities at every location that we visited. I can't count how many times my wife or I would be ready to take a picture and Marco would suggest that we shoot it from over there or over here where there were less people and a better view. MARCO, YOU ARE ONE OF THE BEST!!!

The next morning got to sleep in since our pick up for the return ride to the Cusco airport was scheduled for noon. Right on time, there was Alberto to help us with our bags and drive us to the airport. With him was Carmen, another SA employee. She was there to help with our bags and our check in at the airport. Again we had another sad parting. Marsha and I had grown fond of Alberto. He had taken great care of us with his driving and always made sure we stayed hydrated with plenty of water. Every time we got in his car there was a fresh bottle of water waiting for us. THANK YOU, ALBERTO!

We flew from Cusco to Lima on Avianca. When we came out of baggage claim, we were greeted by Santiago from SA Expeditions. He and his driver helped with our bags and escorted us to the JW Marriott Lima where he assisted with check-in. On the drive to the Marriott, he pointed out some points of interest along the way and recommended several restaurants for us to try in the Miraflores area of Lima where our hotel was located. We tried two of his recommendations, Tanta & Mangoes, and they were both outstanding.

The next day we scheduled a half-day tour of Lima with SA Expeditions. Promptly at 9:00 am were met by Rina, our SA Lima tour guide. Rina was well versed in the history of Lima and the surrounding areas. We visited parks and pre-Incan & Incan ruins inside Lima. Lima is made up of numerous neighborhoods and we visited a number of them. One of the highlights was the Museo Larco, which is an outstanding museum housing a massive, private collection of pre-Incan & Incan artifacts, all of which were amazingly well preserved. After that, we toured the original city of Lima and the main plaza. Lima was the first Spanish capital of South America and the main plaza and several of the churches surrounding it are original structures from the early 1500s. The second highlight of the Lima tour was the original house of the first Spanish Governor of South America. Rina had arranged a private tour of several parts of the house, which has been continuously occupied by the relatives of the first Spanish Governor for 17 generations. The relatives occupying the house today have private apartments in the structure, which we did not tour. However, one of the descendants, a very elegant lady was leaving her apartment during our tour. She and Rina exchanged pleasantries and it appeared that Rina was acquainted with her. The Spanish Governor's house was a special experience. Thank you, Rina.

Our last day in Lima was a relaxation day. Our flight back to the US was scheduled for 12:50 am on July 14th. Santiago was scheduled to pick us up at 9:00 pm on the 13th for transfer to the Lima International Airport. He was right on time and helped us with our luggage at the airport. SA Expedition truly made our vacation a memorable one by eliminating the language barriers, expediting us through long lines at many different places and providing a first class experience everywhere we went. MANY THANKS TO RIVA BACQUET AND HER ENTIRE TEAM! 

- Fred and Marsha J. (Las Vegas, Nevada)
Photographed at Galapagos Islands

My husband and I have been very fortunate in that we've been able to travel a great deal throughout our lives. However, no trip or vacation has ever compared to our recently completed three week tour of Peru. From the moment that we connected with Staci at SA Luxury Expeditions, I knew that we were in great hands. Her knowledge of the area, the hotels and tours put her into a class by herself. During our three week tour EVERY single event, transfer, tour and hotel stay went without a hitch and like a perfectly oiled machine. Our hotels throughout the trip were some of the best that we've ever experienced anywhere in the world, with both the La Casona and the Casa Cartegena (both in Cuzco) being tied for the best hotels in our world of travels. LOVED Cuzco and we were fortunate enough to be there during June when there were tons of celebrations, parades and fireworks going on…we can't wait to return.

The Amazon cruise was beautiful (we did the 7 night) and the ship, staff and accommodations were out of this world. A great way to see the Amazon…and trust us, there's no “roughing it” here!

And the guides! Sol (our guide in Cuzco, the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu) and well as Josephine in Lima were simply amazing. Their knowledge and enthusiasm for the area was infectious and made you want to ask even more questions. The drivers were all courteous, friendly, and knew the area (and traffic!) beautifully. The transfers and transportation made us feel like VIP's as every single time we left an airport, city, or venue, there was our driver with a sign ready to assist with our bags and a helping hand. And the little touches, like water available in the vans, made the trip especially comfortable.

We looked at several companies before selecting SA Luxury Expeditions and we couldn't have been more happy. Thank you to Staci, Riva and the entire SALE staff for taking such great care of us. We can't wait to use you again for our return to Cuczo and for Iguazu Falls…it's never to early to start planning! 

- Duncan & Russell (New York)
Photographed at Amazon

Thank you so much! We couldn't have put a trip this amazing together without you! All in all, simply put, amazing. I'll send along some photos when I get the chance to sort through them. 4sd cards at 8-64gb full of pics and video.

I think, we would've been happier in a hostal with laundry service post-trek. It might just have been that el Mapi was a little too uber-hipster for us.

The guidance for tipping was a little vague and in retrospect I feel badly because I think some of the people got shorted. All of the drivers and pickup people were very professional and great.

Highlights: Abra Salkantay. We were very happy we took the Salkantay trek vice Inca trail due to the shear numbers of people and amazing array of micro-climates. Cuzco was amazing, especially being there for Inti Raymi. Wayki trek was rugged and engaged enough that I felt like we were with just a group of guys who didn't distance themselves from us simply because we were the gringo tourists. I would use Wayki trek for everything. I would've liked to have Alfredo and his group the entire time, and knowing what we know now we would've spent even more time in the mountains with them rather than going to Lima. The locals were great everywhere. I really made some lifelong friendships. That was the prime highlight for me.

Trip of a lifetime!

- Sean, Carol and Anthony (Hawaii)
Photographed at Cuzco

We returned from our trip to Peru, visiting Cusco, the Sacred Valley, Machu Picchu, and Lima. The entire trip was outstanding. We stayed at the Lima Airport Hotel which was perfect for our late evening arrival and morning flight to Cusco. I would recommend others to stay there rather than in Miraflores if you are leaving Lima the next morning. It saves the 45 minute drives to and from Miraflores and the airport.

Upon arrival in Cusco, we were met by the representative and driver who took us to our hotel. We stayed at the La Casona Hotel which was top notch in every way. Their service is impeccable and the staff very friendly and helpful. We experienced no altitude sickness since we live at 7200'. Our first afternoon, we took the Marcelo Batata Cooking Class, which we scheduled on our own. The instruction covers everything from Peruvian food, fruit tasting, pisco tasting and drink making, and of course cooking. This was a great introduction to Peru and its food culture. I would highly recommend this to everyone visiting Cusco for their first time.

The next morning we were met by our guide, Juan Carlos and our driver Roddy. We had the same driver and car throughout our time in Cusco and the Sacred Valley. Roddy made sure we had bottled water in the car every day. We also did the Cusco Planetarium on our own, which was very informative. They covered the Inca sky beliefs along with current sky phenomena. Highlights included seeing the moons of Jupiter and the rings of Saturn with their telescopes. I would also recommend it for someone looking for something different to do in the evening. They pick you up and drop you off in Cusco. We were with a group of 3 other people. The planetarium is located near Sacsayhuaman. Our guide, Juan Carlos, was also with us the entire time throughout the Cusco area; including the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu. Having the same guide throughout was a great advantage, since he could tailor his information more to our interests. Of note, Juan Carlos took us onto the Maras salt fields, rather than just on the outskirt path. We got to see firsthand and up close, some of the workers preparing their areas and they explained what and how they were doing it.

Machu Picchu is everything we've read about and more. We stayed at the Sanctuary Lodge, which was well worth the expense. We were there for two day; one full day with the guide and another without the guide. The guide also climbed Huayna Picchu with us. The advantage of the Sanctuary Lodge is we were able to leave the park, shower after our hike and have lunch in the hotel residents only area, then return back into the park. Our Lima guide, Sophia, was outstanding as well. When we arrived in early afternoon without lunch due to our flight, she made a reservation for lunch for us at the Museum Cafe so we had a table available when we arrived. She also made sure we arrived at Miraflores in time for the sunsetting over the Pacific.

Overall, the trip was everything we expected and more.

- Jay and Heather DeLong, (Laramie, Wyoming)
Photographed at Huyna Picchu

In most cases, after long trips like this, we are usually tired and overwhelmed, but this trip has inspired us to seek our next great adventure, which is a great and refreshing feeling to have :)

Jacqueline (Upon arrival to Cusco) timely met us at baggage claim and escorted us to the Inkaterra La Casona. The La Casona was A-W-E-S-O-M-E!! It is probably the best hotel we have ever stayed at! What put it over the top for us was the personalized service that we didn't experience at any of the other hotels we've stayed at. Of course the grounds and the room were immaculate. It was nice to feel pampered as if we were guests at a large mansion rather than a hotel. On our return to the La Casona following our Inca Trail trek, they were able to rush or laundry before our next day flight to Iquitos which was greatly appreciated!! Cicciolina Restaurant was also wonderful – thank you for that recommendation. The Alpaca steak was interesting to try! The short walk from the hotel to the restaurant was nice as we still were acclimating to the elevation. On our last night in Cusco, ChiCha was also impressive. Great restaurant recommendations!!

Our tours of Cusco, the greater Sacred Valley and the Andean wedding ceremony/ritual were excellent and well-executed. Jorge as a guide was superb and took his time to explain all the relevant history and important facts and made sure that we didn't miss any of the photo opportunities at all the different sites we visited. The Sacred Valley was particularly beautiful as we had a mix of rain, sun, clouds on that day and we want to express once again an additional thank you for making the ceremony happen! It was unique and creative and something we were lucky to have the opportunity to take a part of. Thank you immensely for adding this extra touch to our trip!

The Tambo Del Inka Hotel was very nice and luxurious and felt more like a Ritz Carlton or Four Seasons in the middle of the Sacred Valley. We would have loved to stay there until the morning but had to leave at 10pm given the farmers' strike ☺ In retrospect though, it was a great decision as it would have been far more disappointing if we missed the Inca Trail hike. Excellent choice here!! The dinner we had at the Tambo hotel was very nice and the rooms well-appointed and clean, nothing short of what you'd expect at a 5 star hotel in the SF. The hotel didn't have the personalized feeling of the La Casona but I don't think we could expect that from such a large hotel, nor is this a negative comment by any means.

In a trip where everything was planned and turned out so well, it is difficult to find a “highlight” of our trip because there were so many highlights, but if we had to pick one, Ruben “Charlie” and his team of porters at Wayki made the trek on the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu memorable, exciting and close to perfect. This was clearly the highlight of the highlights for us. Everything about the trek was amazing and over the top – the guidance and motivation from Ruben, the delicious food by Flabio (he should open his own restaurant!!), and the tireless efforts and positive attitudes of our porters (we could tell some of the porters from other trekking groups seemed somewhat questionable in their behavior, but our porters from Wayki Trek acted professionally and had much more class than those porters). I hope SA Expeditions continues to contract with Wayki because these guys along with you and your team at SA, really helped to establish this as a trip of our lifetime!!!

We like the Inkaterra El Pueblo in Agua Calientes and overall it was a great experience following our trek, though we had some minor reservations about the hotel. The meals in the hotel restaurant were good – we did not expect the hotel to include dinner which was a plus. And we were able to partake in a jungle walk on the following morning where we saw interesting plants, teas and some wildlife. This is rather nitpicky, but compared to the other accommodations on the trip, we were not very impressed by the room, most specifically the bathroom. We were also given a two twin bed room and upon mentioning that to the front desk, we were shown a King room behind the Spa which also smelled of mildew and chlorine. We know the hotel is capable of having clean bathrooms – their lobby had a nice one, and clean rooms - some of the suites we walked past looked nice, so it was a shame we didn't get to have one ourselves.

Finally, the Delfin cruise was spectacular! I guess given the price point, we were expecting all the bells and whistles and they delivered on each front! Our room was great (lots of bugs but we are in the rainforest after all ☺, as well as on a boat for that matter) – the floor to ceiling windows, bed and furnishings were all nicely appointed. Sandro, our guide, went above and beyond to ensure that we were able to view wildlife, for instance, standing up in pelting rain in the dark looking for caymens for an hour+. Throughout the trip, we saw lots of birds, some monkeys, fished for piranha, pink dolphins, tried Amazonian fruits and had the opportunity to stand up paddle board and swim in the Amazon! All It was a 360 degree difference from the Andes Mountains! The meals and entertainment were excellent, we could really tell that the staff stopped at nothing and pulled all stops to make sure everything was first class and all the details were addressed.

In summary, everything was close to perfect for this trip. And as we've said countless times, this was in fact a trip of a lifetime!!

- Vincent & Cheryl T. (San Francisco, California)
Photographed at Amazon

We are back after a most excellent 10 days in Peru, and wanted to convey our thanks to you and SA expeditions.

Everything pretty much went as scheduled and arranged. Highlights included the Inca trail hike, the days spent in Cuzco and sacred valley, the excellent food and the nice weather.

The guided tours were all very well done, but we want to especially acknowledge Juan Cardenas - our guide at Cuzco & sacred valley. Always enthusiastic, super knowledgeable and adding that extra bit to make it special.

Thanks again to the team, and to you for the prompt responses and clarifications over the past few months. Peru is an amazing place, and we'd be glad to recommend it and SA expeditions to our friends.

- Anil, Dennis, John, Ravi, Vinoo (San Francisco, California)
Photographed at Machu Picchu

Staci- The trip was great. SA Ex did a great job. I've never had guides before on a trip and it made everything so much easier and less stressful. Luis (Amazon Guide) was wonderful and clearly showed a passion and interest in the Eco environment. He took Dillon and I on an exclusive early morning walk thru the jungle the day before we flew out to show us even more.

Emilio (Cusco & Machu Picchu Guide) was wonderful. I can't say enough about him. Very professional at all times, Respected our space. Cleary had knowledge of the Inca culture. Again he went above and beyond. I would recommend him for any tour. I couldn't have asked for a better trip. The weather was great the entire time. We only 2 minor hic cups. Train was 1 hour late coming off the mountain and our flight out of Puerto Mandaldo to Lima was 1 hour late. Both of which were no big deal.

I have another son graduating next year so I will be scouring the SA Ex site for another trip with him. I'm thinking Galapagos Islands. 

- Robert and Dillon, (Los Angeles, California)
Photographed at Huyna Picchu

When I began research on an Inca Trail trek to Machu Picchu I found a wide range of options on the web and it was a bit overwhelming. After looking into some pricer options with well-known names (REI), I stumbled upon SA Expeditions website. Minutes after I entered in my request for a quote I was called directly by the owner of the company, Nick. Speaking with Nick on the phone was incredible helpful to 1. alleviate my fears of booking online with an unknown company and 2. talk through all my travel plans and desires until we arrived at the perfect trip for my husband and I. We ended up customizing our Inca Trail tour by adding a few days in the Amazon first and it was incredible!

We experienced the trip of a lifetime, even when my husband came down with altitude sickness in Cusco the day before we were supposed to leave for our trek. This is when I became incredibly grateful we booked with SA Expeditions. With a phone call we were in touch with Riva, who booked our trip and managed the details, who sent a Dr. out to our hotel to attend to my husband and re-arranged the remainder of our trip as we could no longer do the trek. As my husband was put on oxygen and resting in our hotel room, she put together all new hotel rooms, transfers, and even train and bus tickets so we could still make it to Machu Picchu. As luck would have it, she ended up in the same city we were transferred to (Sacred Valley) and even invited us to a special lunch with her and her colleagues! This ended up being a highlight of our trip. My husband recovered just fine and we still made it to Machu Picchu.

I couldn't imagine having to seek medical attention for my husband while simultaneously cancelling and re-booking our travel plans. We are incredibly grateful for the hard work and "above and beyond" approach of SA Expeditions and would highly recommend them to anyone looking to travel! 

- Addison and Ian E. (San Diego, CA)
Photographed at Ollantaytambo

My husband & I just returned from a 2-week vacation in Brazil. This is the second year in a row we used South America Expeditions (SAE) to plan our trip. Last year we were in the Galapagos Islands and Machu Picchu; this year we traveled to Rio De Janeiro, the Iguazu Falls (visiting them from both the Brazilian side & the Argentine side), and the Amazon river. WOW!!! What an amazing trip... and I wasn't even sure if I wanted to go to Brazil. Everything was perfect from start to finish with this vacation; from flights being on-time, to luggage arriving timely, to our personal tour guides meeting us on schedule at the designated airports and hotels, to our feelings of safety, to the knowledge imparted by our guides, to our accommodations... absolutely everything ran like clockwork. Staci, at SAE, hit it out of the ballpark for us again this year. She makes herself available to her clients by phone or e-mail 24-hours per day, and in a few cases we needed her. Her response was almost instantaneous. Even though you are in a foreign country and do not speak the language, she makes sure you do not feel alone or unprotected-- yay Staci! We just arrived home to the States and are already throwing ideas around with SAE as to where we might travel next in South America. If anyone reading this is vacillating about a trip to the Galapagos, Machu Picchu, Rio, Iguazu Falls or the Amazon, my suggestion is run, do not walk, to the phone & contact South America Expeditions to plan your trip for you. You will not be disappointed. If you are world travelers, or simply have an interest in South America, by all means visit the places I've mentioned. The things you see & experience will be indelibly etched into your memories and will never be forgotten. My husband & I have traveled to 71 countries on 6 continents and our recent South American travels have indeed been some of our favorites. Happy trails! 

- Jane and Michael Z. (Scottsdale, AZ)
Photographed at Amazon

I finally have a moment to share our comments regarding our trip to Chile. We had a fantastic time. The arrangements were on point and the guides were wonderful.

We were received in Santiago by Pablo (I hope my memory works regarding names). He was very personable and gracious. He left us at our hotel. He advised us the time he would be picking us up the next day. My husband and I spent the day visiting the city using the hop on -hop off bus tourist bus that was easily accessible near the hotel.

The next morning Pablo picked us up with Mark Knowles, who would be our biking guide for the next 3 days. He was the perfect guide for us. As an American we had no problem communicating. However, having been in Chile for 10 years, he had an in depth knowledge and understanding of the country and its customs. In addition, he is a professional cyclist so he was able to tailor our expedition to our ability level. It was thoroughly enjoyable. Pablo was a perfect complement to the entire biking experience. We felt safe at all times.

In Puerto Montt we were greeted by our two guides (his and her name escape me). Again, they were very professional and friendly. We arrived quite late. They drove us to Puerto Varas to the lovely Cumbres Hotel. Clearly, it was perfect location with spectacular views and a beautiful, expansive room. We enjoyed the New Year's dinner which was all arranged beforehand. We were pleasantly surprised about that detail. We enjoyed the spa services, room service and gym. We will definitely stay there again when we visit in the future.

New Year's Day we had a free day. We were able to explore Puerto Varas on our own. We had dinner at Mediterraneo. We enjoyed the food and the service. It was walking distance from the hotel. The next day Francisco (Ko Kayak) and their driver picked us up to go kayaking. Again, it was a beautiful day and a wonderful experience. We had the opportunity to share it with a young couple from England. We had lunch at a lady's house who lives next to the lake. We enjoyed the boxed lunch at their humble home. They shared their family history. It was lovely.

In the end, our experience was remarkable. This was one of the expeditions that left us with the clear notion that we will be back. We want to thank you for arranging such well-organized and enjoyable trip. We have already mentioned it to several friends who are looking at possible places to visit. Your professionalism and level of detail made this trip one of our top experiences. 

- Hy and Lucia (Ft. Lauderdale, Florida)
Photographed at Torres del Paine

The highlights of our trip were the trip to Machu Picchu, Our stay in the Amazon, and all of the beautiful accommodations at each place we stayed. We were very pleased with our guides and representatives. It was so nice to be greeted by Allison's smiling face when we landed after a long flight. Her thorough review of our itinerary put our minds at rest about the exciting week ahead. Wilfredo was an outstanding driver. He kept our vehicle spotlessly clean the entire trip, and maneuvered through some of the most difficult roads and traffic so that we always had a comfortable ride. He was always promptly waiting to pick us up from wherever we were, so we never had to wait. However, it was Johan, our guide that truly made the trip memorable for us. The wealth of information he shared with us about the Inca and Spanish history brought each site alive for us. He told us about each place as if it were a story unfolding before our eyes. He would frequently ask us questions, that made us think about what we were seeing and helped us to remember all that we learned. His calm and smiling demeanor combined with Wifredo's driving, created a delightful, stress free trip. In addition, the other guides that took us on our shorter excursions were also friendly, professional, and courteous. As Dennys in the Amazon reminded us- “No worries!” Finally, our last few hours in Lima with Reynardo were a relaxing conclusion to our trip as we came full circle from the Incas, to the Amazon, to the history of the Spanish in the historical district of Lima.

All of our accommodations were first class. The service at each place was impeccable, as if the staff anticipated our every need. Our rooms and cabana were beautifully designed for our maximum enjoyment.We felt like royalty at each place! As for the Amazon-it was a true adventure crossing the canopy walks, seeing the wild life and learning about the medical qualities of many plants. Thank you and all your wonderful staff for making this the trip of a lifetime! 

- Harri and Heidi B. (New York)
Photographed at Machu Picchu

hanks to Riva with SA Luxury Expeditions. We recently returned from a 10-day trip that included Lima, Puerto Maldonado, Cuzco and Machu Picchu. Believe it or not, this was a last minute trip. We were referred to Riva through a coworker. She was so helpful. She guided us through to various itenerary options, helped align our sudden trip with the coworker and addressed last minute modifications. She was very quick to respond to every email - including a last minute request, during the trip, when we turned ill. She even called the hotel to see if a doctor \ specialist was needed! Every step of the trip was well planned and tended to. The staff that was apointed to our trip were fantastic, very well informed, polite and eager to provide great service. They were individual ambassadors for each city that we visited. Whenever we needed to be taken to an airport, met at an airport, met at the hotel, , whatever - we were never disappointed.

Lima - we had a couple of 'free days' that we'd intentionally added. Riva placed us in the Raddison in Mirraflores. A great choice, great location. This is a very friendly, clean and safe area. It is a short walk to Kennedy Park or the ocean with the great views and restaurants. We found a double-decker bus that took us on a tour - highly recommended. We flew to Puerto Maldonado and spent a couple days with Incaterra. Staying at an eco-lodge was interesting. The staff and facility were great. Our guide - Fray - was very informative. He always had an answer. He always seemed to know what our groups next question was going to be and he was prepared. The cabana was nice clean and well appointed. You just have to remember that there are actually certain hours of the day when they turn off the site generator... our first night was the noisiest night I've had in ages. Serious. When white noise is absent you can't believe how loud the tiniest of insects can be. Oh yeah - December is rainy season. Our second day almost got rained out. We did the (long...muddy...) hike to Lake Sandavol, went out on the canoe and saw some wildlife including otters, birds and a large caiman. That afternoon, the rain eased up so we could go on a jungle canopy hike. I can't forget to tell you about the food at this lodge. Fantastic. They farm most of the food that was prepared. The dinner rolls - with chocolate - were surprising deliscious. That memory always brings a smile. Next, we went to Cuzco to prepare for the Machu Picchu. The elevation, yes, it will affect you. We were met locally by Allison - very helpful and gave us some dinner suggestion that were fantastic. Thanksfully, the botique hotel that Riva put is at was very prepared for its guests... and quickly offered the local remedy (yes.. it helped.) Casa San Blas. Great location, the rooms on the 3rd floor were fantastic, loft style with a nice city view at night. Cuzco was a great walk-around town. Don't rush yourself. The churches and the cathedral were beautiful. I just wish that photography was allowed. We found the chocolate museum in Cuzco. They were very eager to share their knowledge and the process used to make this wonderful chocolate. We had soem great dinners here as well. Cicciolina - I think that's the name - you have to find it and experience it. Unbelievable. This place could have been in any major city. Highlights included the duck piscutto and fried polenta, the red trout ceviche and the bbq scallops.

Finally we were ready to go to Machu Picchu. We did it the easy way. We took the train from Cuzco to Aguas Calientes, spent the night and then took the bus in the morning. I won't bore you with the ooo's and ahhh's. You can google a zillion pics and articles. But - I want to highlight out guide. Riva paired us with Silver. He was great. Better than great, he could have lead a history class. He was with us in Cuzco as well. He has a great passion for the region, the people and culture. You will want to ask for him. Oh - everywhere we went he was known... storekeepers and guides... it was like traveling with a rock star :) After Macchu Pichu we returned to Lima and had a halfday tour. Another fantastic guide. We went to a few different locations, including the Monastery of San Franciso (another place that I really really wish I could have taken photos...) and a private residence that has been in the same (wealthy) family for 500 years. Great access and knowledge. Thanks again to Riva for putting together such a great trip.

- Kurt and Maria G. (Aurora, IL)
Photographed at Machu Picchu

SA Luxury Expeditions and Gina Allman planned and provided an amazing tour of Peru for this father/daughter expedition. We loved the colorful introduction to Peru in Arequipa. Our trip took us took to see the huge condors and the beautiful native terraced area of Colca Canyon. The floating Uros island, Lake Titicaca boat ride, and fresh lake trout lunch on Taquile Island were breath-taking. The sacred Valley, Cusco, and Machu Picchu, and our guide Marco provided the most memorable moments of our trip. Looking over Machu Picchu, with my dad who had read about the Incas in eighth grade and always dreamed of seeing their innovative wonders, was a thrill of a lifetime for this daughter. Thank you SA Luxury for providing such a special lifetime experience. 

- Lasca A. (Goliad, TX)
Photographed at Sacred Valley

Staci, time has literally flown since we got home from Peru. Thank you and the staff at SA Luxury for arranging an amazing experience for us. Your recommendations were perfect. We continue to talk about all our experiences as we freely share pics and stories with family and friends. The staff was exceptional with their knowledge and attention to detail. We had so many pleasant surprises as we explored Lima, Cusco, Moray, Mara, Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu. We had no idea that Peru had such diversity in cultures, terrain and climates. Your recommendations significantly surpassed expectations. The accommodations in the Inkaterra hotels in Cusco and Machu Picchu were perfect. My husband can't stop talking about the accommodations and service! We really appreciate your customized touches in planning this trip with our hunting trip to Córdoba, Argentina. All arrangements were perfect. We look forward to our next adventure with you. 

- Gene and Lisa G. (Azle, TX)
Photographed at Machu Picchu

Our trip to Lima, Cusco and Machu Picchu was phenomenal, and we thank you for your work and efforts. We would recommend SA Luxury Expeditions to family and friends, and would encourage them to work with you. There were no shortcomings on the trip. Kristy and I have been so used to trips were it is nonstop travel and touring, and we come home and we need to recharge and relax. This trip was an excellent blend of sightseeing, but also allowed us to relax. The best day of the trip, besides our visit to Machu Picchu, was the drive through the Sacred Valley, including stops at Maras, Moray and Ollantaytambo. It gave us the opportunity to visit some interesting Inca archaeological sites, and interact with some beautiful people. For restaurants, in Lima were loved Maido, and in Cusco we loved Limo and Cicciolina. Attached is a photo of Kristy and me at the peak of Huayna Picchu. We would recommend that if able, people do this hike. While extremely dangerous, it does provide the best views of the ruins at Machu Picchu.

- Jason and Kristy C. (Holbroken, NJ)
Photographed at Huyna Picchu

Staci, a large THANK YOU to you and all your associates at SA Luxury Expeditions, the guide (Freddy) , driver and Allison were fantastic. The logistics were seamless, tours breathtaking and accommodations perfect. 

- Howard G. (New York, NY)
Photographed at Sacred Valley

South America is an amazing continent and I had been dreaming of travelling around it for many years. After much research on various tours I could do and travel companies, SA Luxury was my firm choice in assisting me with putting together my trip. Staci Steele was my main contact and is incredibly knowledgeable, friendly and patient. She went back and forth for several months in communications with me, tirelessly providing information, checking out activities, guides and accommodation, to tailor my personal trip of two months around South America. No question was too much trouble, and being able to put together my own itinerary with selection from their portfolio of accommodation and activities based on my personal timetable, was invaluable.

I started in Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands, travelling to the Amazon and Machu Picchu in Peru, down from Atacama to Patagonia in Chile, and up through Argentina before crossing into Brazil and then home via Rio de Janeiro. As a single female traveller with only a beginners understanding of Spanish, I was concerned with security as well as wishing to travel comfortably and ensure I maximised my experience with all the must-see's of each of the countries I visited. All the stress of transfers and making flights was looked after as I had an ambassador in each city meet me from the plane, deliver me to and from my hotel or cruise and provide knowledgeable day tours, and manage any changes to my itinerary as the trip progressed. When a flight was delayed causing me to miss a transfer, I was potentially going to loose an entire day in one of Patagonia's luxury lodges – one of my trips' splurges and I had been looking forward to it for weeks.

I emailed Staci from the airport and she immediately rearranged emergency transfers that involved two people driving me through the night for five hours to make sure I didn't miss the next days' activities. I slept in the transfer vehicles and was able to do an amazing mountain hike in the morning, horse ride across the pampas in the afternoon and the all-inclusive meals were out of this world! I was overwhelmed with how quickly and efficiently my trip was put back on schedule and crisis averted. Staci also checked in with me every week or so just to see if there was anything I needed and to check on quality of the hotels and tours. SA Luxury' fantastic customer service allowed me to leave the organisation to them and focus on the amazing experiences of each place and activity, and truly soak it all in.

I highly recommend Staci and SA Luxury to any traveller wanting to visit South America. They have so much knowledge of the countries and best places to stay, guides and activities. You won't miss a thing! 

- Deirdre M. (New Zealand)
Photographed at Machu Picchu

Staci, yes we are settling in from that wonderful trip. The accomodations were great! The Marriott in Lima was the perfect location for a few nights; the other hotels (especially La Casona) were spectacular. And all the food was wonderful-even my son's foray into guinea pig! The "Marco's" were very good guides, kept us entertained and imparted a lot of information we never would have learned. The folks who picked us up and delivered us to the airports were also very good and helped to get us oriented. We think the horseback ride was so much fun, in depth look at some villages, frankly those were the absolutely best horses I have ever ridden. And everyone else who had not ridden much were very comfortable since the horses were so responsive. It would have been nice if we could have done a bit of trotting etc but Marco and his horse seemed to have a "male v male" issue so he was led by one of the trainers. In short, all of your people could not have been more accommodating to our needs.

- LaDonna S. (Fairfield, CT)
Photographed at Sacred Valley

Our tour was really successful in every way, and the relaxed pace and timing was really the way to do it. Machu Picchu is quite remote and hard to get to, so taking time to get their in stages makes for a more enjoyable experience. For those who can afford it, your choice of accommodations would be hard to beat. All the hotels really took care of us, as you would expect from 5-star resorts. The pick-ups, drop-offs, logistics and coordination was all very seamless. It was nice to be able to relax and not really worry about anything, knowing that you had already figured everything out. We very much enjoyed Marco. As I have done on other tours, I made the effort to make a personal connection with him and my group. We invited him to all our dinners and lunches when he was available, and enjoyed his company. The boys were amazed by the experience, and I think it will be something they never forget.

- Roger H.
Photographed at Machu Picchu

My wife and I took the opportunity of travelling to the World Cup in Brasil to and tour the South American highlights. Based on Trip Advisor feedback we contacted SA Luxury Expeditions for assistance in arranging our itinerary and travel. Right from the time we initially approached SA Luxury Expeditions they (Kristina) were incredibly responsive and helpful. We knew the highlights we wanted to see but their local knowledge was invaluable in translating our wish list into a practical itinerary. Our actual travel arrangements were wonderful; the hotels were all excellent, the guides knowledgeable and personable and the logistics ran like clockwork. The thoroughness and attention to detail of all the arrangements left us completely free to enjoy our trip. 

- Steve & Donna K. (New Zealand)
Photographed at Machu Picchu

My husband, 23-year old son and I just returned from a truly spectacular and informative journey through Cusco and Machu Picchu, and we wish to express our deepest thanks to everyone at SA Luxury Expeditions who contributed toward our remarkable vacation.

From the moment we stepped off the plane in Lima and were met by the smiling, charming Allison, every aspect of our trip was perfectly choreographed, smooth and professional. More important, thanks to the encyclopedic knowledge, patience and graciousness of our guides, we learned much about not only the ancient Incas and their timeless legacy, but also the contemporary culture of the Andes people and their dedication to keeping alive many of the ancient crafts – notably the magnificent woven goods.

In particular, we wish to acknowledge the ever-genial virtuoso Fernando, who provided us not only exceptional insights into the facts and theories governing the Inca culture and the breathtaking sites on our itinerary, but also details of modern life for Cusco residents, the pivotal role of Catholicism in contemporary society, geology and cosmology, and other subjects. Fernando was unfailingly affable, gracious, informative and respectful throughout our intensive three days together. It is no exaggeration to say that Fernando's tutelage transformed our journey into an unforgettable experience. SA Luxury Expeditions has an outstanding ambassador in the modest Fernando, and we were delighted to be matched with a guide of such expansive knowledge, compassion and stamina.

Finally, our half-day tour of the cosmopolitan economic and political powerhouse of Lima, led by Julia, provided a fascinating counterpoint to our travels in Cusco and Machu Picchu. 

- Nan, Doug, & Nathaniel C. (Peoria, IL)
Photographed at Huyna Picchu

I can tell you from day one until the day we left Cusco, that our experience was a magical and wonderful. SA Luxury Expedition is truly and exceptional tour company. Please pass on our thanks to Marco for taking care of Wilbur and my postcards. I'm sure Wilbur received a wonderful send off at Macho Picchu by Marco. Thank you for everything.

- David & Karl (Palm Springs, CA)
Photographed at Machu Picchu

Thank you so very much for our wonderful first experience in South America. We both love culture, and absolutely love getting out of the U.S., so it's difficult to pick one highlight. One of our favorites was the FOOD of Peru, oh my goodness - we wish we could eat like that every day back home. But otherwise we loved the Amazon, the entire experience that was the Inca Trail (again - food FAR exceeded our expectations, it was amazing), traveling to see the different cultures that lived outside of the urbanized areas (we saw this on the bus ride from Cusco to Puno, and then in Puno traveling out to see the Unos people and those on Taquile Island), Lake Titicaca itself, and the "cat park" in Lima.

The guides and representatives were incredible. The knowledge about the cultures, history, and fluency in English are unmatched, (for us to date anyway!) We were braced to be flexible. We knew we had a tight schedule, and neither one of us is fluent in Spanish so we expected some challenges - but there were none. Everyone was kind, knowledgeable, and on time. (A change from what we are use to in Africa, lol.) Our favorite hotel was the one in Cusco, followed by the Amazon lodge.

The Inca Trail was once in a lifetime. It was by far the most physically challenging thing I've ever done (day 2)... Jeremiah was basically running up the mountain. But I wouldn't change a single thing (except maybe a slower hike on the last day to take in the sunrise a little more, we booked it to beat everyone to the Sungate - we did that "normally two hour hike" in 45 minutes). The views were breath-taking.

Thank you once again for a wonderful experience, we know who we are using the next time we return to South America! 

- Sarah & Jeremiah P. (New Berlin, WI)
Photographed at Rio de Janeiro

The four of us just returned from a FANTASTIC trip to Peru! We could not have asked for a more perfect Peruvian adventure and it's all thanks to SA Luxury!!! When our group decided on doing a hike to Machu Picchu we assumed that we would be camping along the Inca Trail, but once we discovered that there is a lodge to lodge trek we were sold! Our total trip was 10 days, with 2 days in the Cusco area to acclimate and the other 8 hiking the Salkantay Trail to Machu Picchu.

For one of our acclimating days in Cusco we arranged to do the day trip to Choquechaca through SA Luxury. We were initially hesitant to book it because it is such a long day, but we are sooooo glad we finally agreed to it. Going to this remote Andean village, that has been virtually non-visited by tourists, was absolutely incredible! The Sincha family was so friendly and very welcoming to us. We enjoyed learning about their culture, how they make textiles and even got a chance to go inside one of the their 1 room houses that has no running water or electricity. It really was so fascinating. We could not imagine a better way to kick off our trip. We HIGHLY recommend it if you have the time.

Some of the highlights of the Salkantay Trek included hiking to the Humantay Glacier Lake, hiking above 15,000 ft over the Salkantay Mountain Pass, enjoying a traditional Andean “thanksgiving” dinner to celebrate the harvest (aka Pachamanca), and of course….Machu Picchu, including our final hike of the trip up Huanyu Picchu on the last day. One of the nice parts about hiking the Salkantay Trail is that there were relatively few other hikers on the trail with us. This is a big contrast to the 500 hikers that depart on the Inca Trail each day! The lodges were the same way. With the exception of the first lodge, our 12-person group were the only guests at each mountain lodge. The accommodations were very nice and the food was plentiful, delicious and beautifully presented. Our 2 guides, Manolo and Whilder, were very knowledgeable and we always felt safe and well cared for. In addition, there were always 2 horses with us that carried medical supplies, oxygen & water, and were available for us to ride on them if needed (luckily, no one on our trip needed to use them!).

As for the fabulous SA Luxury staff, we had a great experience with everyone we worked with. Kristina was wonderful in helping us make our international and domestic flights, accommodations at El Mercado in Cusco, booking the Salkantay Trek and inviting us to be the first tourist group to visit the remote Andean village of Choquechaca. She was super organized, timely, thorough with her responses, and ever so patient with answering our many questions about travel logistics and health concerns about how to avoid altitude sickness. Allison greeted us with a smile at the Cusco airport, escorted us to our hotel and even sat with us in the patio to have some tea and review our itinerary before she left. She provided us with her contact info in case we needed her for anything while we were there, which was very comforting to know that there was someone local that could help us if we needed it.

On the day of our Choquechaca excursion, we had the pleasure of having Marco as our guide, as well as Nick, one of the SA Luxury co-founders. Marco was super charismatic and the perfect guide for us! He was constantly sharing little tidbits of Andean historical and cultural information and kept us smiling and laughing all day! The local families also seemed to really love him, especially the little kids that we came across. He is clearly very passionate about his job which makes him a superb guide. We felt extra special to have Nick join us, and it was really great to chat with him and learn about his love for Peru and for helping preserve the Sincha Family's heritage in Choquechaca. The mutual respect between him and the family was palpable and so nice to witness on this magical “time warp” of a day.

Muchas Gracias to everyone at SA Luxury. We highly recommend the trip that we went on and wouldn't even consider booking through anyone else! We look forward to working with you again in the future. 

- Pete & Betsy C. (Morristown, NJ) and Doug & Rachel H. (Northampton, PA)
Photographed at Choquechaca

Just to let you know that we are home and had a wonderful time in Ecuador and Peru. We had exceptional attention from our guides and drivers. They were all very helpful and welcoming. We had a very busy schedule but that was the only way to cover the areas that were important for us to see and seeing Machu Picchu at the end of the trip was a nice way to end our travels, we were not disappointed!

The upgrade to the Inkaterra was very nice, thanks for arranging and this is one place that one could spend extra days as the hotel did offer extra excursions in addition to ones experience at Macchu Picchu....The other was the lodge at Colca Canyon, an extra day would be nice to unwind from the business of getting up early and onto the next destination. The condors were truly amazing they were graceful and powerful, we were so fortunate to have seen so many of them! Of course time and money always dictates one holiday plans but if neither of these two considerations are an issue then I would definitely recommend an extra couple of days to fit in the time at the above accommodations.

Thank you for planning our trip and answering all our questions leading up to us leaving for South America. A truly memorable experience.

- Ann L. (BC, Canada)
Photographed at Amazon

We have never been cared for so much on a trip as we were by everyone associated with SA Expeditions. My son and daughter-in-law were absolutely spot on about Harvey and Jose Luis. They were amazing, caring, knowledgeable, and personable. When we said goodbye we felt like we were leaving family. Allison met us at the airport in Cusco with her comforting "Mr. Ruger" sign and assisted us with check-in at Casa Andina Private Collection. She answered all of our questions and gave us an introduction to Cusco with suggestions for restaurants, and advice about where to go and where not to go. The day we left she held our hand through the check-in procedure at the airport and bid us a very warm farewell.

Gustavo, our guide on the Odyssey Yacht, and the entire crew treated us as if we were royalty. The staffs of the hotels we stayed at were very helpful and welcoming. Jorge, our driver in Quito was very pleasant and prompt, and a wealth of information about his city. Anna, our guide on the Lima city tour, expressed great pride in sharing her city with us. Albero, our driver in Lima, was quite competent in negotiating the traffic congestion throughout the city.

Simply put, it was a wonderful experience for us from beginning to end. I don't know if we will get back to South America, but rest assured if we do, it will be with an SA Luxury Expedition assisted tour. 

- Paul R. (Crystal Lake, IL)
Photographed at Cuzco

In the past we had used another adventure type travel agent but this time decided to try something new. We surely didn't regret it. SA luxury Expidition was all we hoped for and more. From planning the trip and making great suggestions to their choices of hotels and transportation, everything was spectacular. I can't say enough about our guides. You expect them to be friendly and knowledgable but you don't necessary expect to actually strike up a friendship. We are already thinking about what other trips we might look into in the future with them. 

- Edward H. (Miami, FL)
Photographed at Machu Picchu

The Peru trip and the lodge to lodge trek was all I could have wished for. Everything went without a hitch and had a really enjoyable time. the staff both from SA Expeditions and Mountain Lodges of Peru could not have done more to make it so. I wouldn't hesiate to book a further holiday through your company if I decide to visit South America again. Once again, many thanks! 

- Andy M. (South Shields, UK)
Photographed at Lodge to Lodge Trek

Patricia and I were completely satisfied with our 16 day private SA Luxury Expedition to Galapagos, Machu Picchu and Lake Titicaca. Specifically the M.V. Eclipse, its crew and activities were superb. We both enjoyed snorkeling among sea lions and turtles and watching blue footed boobies serenading each other with their mating dance. La Casona Inkaterra hotel and staff in Cusco were simply the best we have experienced anywhere in the world. The Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu were each extraordinary in themselves but made more so by our superb guide Marco who provided an understanding of pre Inca life as it thrived contemporary with the Terracotta warriors and Romans, and that Machu Picchu was abandoned during civil war rather than conquered by Spain.

SA Expeditions attended to and resolved our needs and was always available. We benefited from your well honed local experience, personnel and appreciation of our senior status. Our selection of your Superior Option delivered a tour that we have not matched anywhere in the world. Thank you! 

- Ron and Patricia B. (Durham, NC)
Photographed at Machu Picchu

Thanks again for planning such a wonderful trip and for actually going to the trouble of meeting us. We had an excellent time and I can't say enough good things about SA Expeditions and everyone connected with it. All of the arrangements were perfect and the guides were great. And you were great about changing our travel plans when our flight in to Peru was delayed by a day. Thank you so much for taking all of the stress out of that little problem! 

- Ellie L. (Roanoke, VA)
Photographed at Lima

I am finally sitting down to tell you about our fantastic trip to Ecuador including the Galápagos Islands, Quito, the Amazon, the Andes and Quenca to visit our exchange student and her family! From my first email to SA Expeditions I felt very comfortable organizing my trip with Staci! Staci answered all the questions that I had about our trip to Ecuador including our pick up at the Quito airport to the beautiful Marriott Hotel, the Quito city tour, Otavalo Market tour, Cotacachi town tour, Galápagos Islands for 4 nights, the city tour to some magnificent churches, cable car ride and both equators! This was our first trip to South America. The Galapagos Island few days was absolutely amazing! All the staff on the Galapagos Legend were fun, informative, helpful, organized and the whole experience was very educational. We were treated to the best hospitality from Gina our travel guide and Vladamir our van driver! Our family felt very safe at all times and really appreciated Gina's knowledge of Ecuador! When we said good bye it was like saying good bye to a best friend! 

- Judy, Dale, Kelby, Keaton C. (Grande Prairie, Alberta, CA)
Photographed at Galapagos Islands

My daughter Sarah and I had a wonderful time on our trip to South America. Our hotels in Buenos Aires, Igauzu Falls and Rio de Janeiro were perfect from a location perspective with beautiful accommodations and excellent service. All 3 of our guides were outstanding – Claudia in Buenos Aires, Tatiana in Igauzu Falls, and Farid in Rio. We had the perfect combination of sightseeing and relaxing. Our guides helped us make the most of the sightseeing trips with their knowledge of each location and they were also very helpful in recommending restaurants and making reservations. I will definitely book a trip with SA Expeditions again, especially when going to a new location where I need a knowledgeable local guide. Thank you! 

- Kathy and Sarah B. (Minneapolis, MN)
Photographed at Iguazu Falls

WOW! I haven't stopped talking about our trip to Peru since landing back here in Texas. It was without a doubt the most well put together trip we have ever made and I can't thank you enough for your first class service and response to each & every request we made of you, throughout the planning stages. It's no doubt a vacation journey we will never forget. The flights from Houston to Lima seemed short in comparison to some other out of country trips we have taken and the in-country hopper flights were fun and exciting as we peered out the windows at Peru's heaven bound alps. As we made our way from Puerto Maldonado up the Madre de Dios river we were astonished to discover such an amazing property located deep within the Amazon jungle and we will never forget our time spent with the lodge mascot & friendly Tapir named Sammy. Your selection of luxurious properties exceeded our expectations on every level. The drivers & guides that we met up with along the way were always super professional and courteous, not to mention well-informed and seemed to know the answers to all of our questions about the area. We especially loved our time with “Super Guide” Fernando for our city tour in Cusco and then the car, train and bus trip up to Macchu Picchu where he shared unbelievable knowledge about the Inca civilization. Finally, our New Year's Eve dinner at the internationally known Astrid y Gaston located in the Miraflores district of Lima couldn't have been any more amazing and yet our ocean view room at the hotel was perfectly situated for watching the New Year fireworks, a perfect ending to an amazing Peruvian journey. Thanks to your entire team and without a doubt…we will be back! 

- Kristin B. (Austin, TX)
Photographed at Machu Picchu

We traveled to Peru for our honeymoon and we couldn't have been happier with SA Luxury. They graciously accommodated every request to customize our itinerary and went out of their way to make our trip perfect. Our pick-ups, transportation, tours, etc. were flawlessly executed. Everyone at SA Luxury is incredibly friendly and knowledgeable. We simply cannot give their team enough praise! 

- Melissa and Reggie G. (Toronto, Ontario, CA)
Photographed at Machu Picchu

I wanted to drop a note to say thanks for all your help with my recent trip to Rio and Iguazu Falls. I got back to Dallas last Friday without any issues. The trip was great. Both Glayber in Rio and Vera in Iguazu Falls were terrific. The weather gods did not exactly cooperate in Rio, the Redeemer was covered in mist for most of the trip. Maybe a sign for me to go back! The falls was awesome, both from the Brazilian as well as the Argentinian side. All in all a successful trip second year in a row courtesy of you & SA! Thanks again for all the help. Need to find something for next year! 

- Sumanth S. (Dallas, TX)
Photographed at Rio de Janeiro

Many, many thanks for an incredible experience in Peru! Staci Steele was our travel coordinator at SA Expeditions and we had constant contact with her in planning the details of our eight day trip. Staci was always quick to get back to us about our questions, regardless if the question was big or small. She helped advise us on the proper clothes, places to visit and great restaurants in the cities we were visiting. She arranged all of our drivers and tours in the various cities and everything worked out perfectly. Her hotel choices were incredible - we loved every one of them!

I will always recommend SA Expeditions to anyone traveling to South America and to Peru! I definitely want my children to experience Peru and the Inca Trail!! Again, many thanks for making this trip of a lifetime so special! I cannot wait to return to Peru! I will definitely be contacting you again about another adventure! 

- Suzie C. (Germantown, TN)
Photographed at Inca Trail

Our experience with SA Expeditions far exceeded our already lofty expectations. Our custom trip to Peru was organized and overseen by David Rottblatt. It included a private guide and driver as we toured Lima, Cuzco and Machu Picchu. Our hotel accommodations at La Casona in Cuzco and El Pueblo at Macchu Picchu were luxurious. Not only did David of SA Expeditions select the perfect itinerary but he selected the finest hotels and restaurants for us.

Marco, who was our guide for our experience in Cuzco and Macchu Picchu was a delight. He enriched the experience immeasurably and had the perfect personality that maximized our fun. Allison who runs the Cuzco office was very accessible and responsive to our requests.

The trip was clearly personalized to our wishes. Almost at the last minute in Lima we chose to make an alteration in our itinerary. David, Allison and our Lima guide, Julia made the change seamlessly for us.

If you chose to do a similar trip, prepare to be amazed.

- Garry & Sheila G. (Ft. Lauderdale, FL)
Photographed at Sacred Valley

Let me tell you! The trip was the best. We were taken care of without ANY problems. Tomas and George were excellent guides and knowledgeable about the history of Cusco and especially the history Machu Picchu.

Thanks again for your guidance in making a memorable trip.

- James and Sondra B. (Washington, D.C.)
Photographed at Machu Picchu

We had a marvelous trip and can't say enough good things about SA Expeditions. It was one of those trips with no flaws in it. The hotels were great, the intra-Peru airline connections worked as expected and the guides were really outstanding. Dimas is the perfect guide for Cusco and Machu Picchu with his background in both archeology and tourism. Franz, in Lima, is also very skilled.

Above all, 100% of the people we met from your company were extremely pleasant and helpful. As an example, one evening I received a phone call from Allison, who I had not yet met, saying she had learned I had a problem with the adaptor for our electricity converter and offering to help find me one. At that point I had obtained one from the hotel concierge and didn't need help, but her call was very impressive indeed.

As far as we are concerned, SA Expeditions does a fantastic job of filling in the interstices so that the holiday runs without flaw. We are already mentioning your company to family and friends and will continue to do so. Moreover, in a couple of years we will probably be calling you about another venture.

- John S. (Del Mar, CA)
Photographed at Sacred Valley

We all really liked that each guide assisted with documents, hotel check in, etc. That is a tremendous benefit as those are often some of the sticky points when traveling internationally. We were very pleased with how the guides managed the airports and hotels for us.

In Cusco we met Mary who was a delight. She was so sweet and wonderful. She was excellent at giving advice about adjusting to the altitude, eating, etc. She was a great local guide and I would highly recommend her. I was impressed that she took the time and effort to climb Wayna Picchu with us.

The bike riding was a bit more up and down than downhill but a great way to experience the country side. Some of us took advantage of riding in the van and the others rode the distance. It was nice to have the option and our guide was also very informed and fun. They spoke English VERY WELL!

In Iguazu Falls we had Ciro. Ciro was brilliant, knew all there was to know about the falls, the ecology, and history of the area. He timed everything perfectly and guests cannot be better served with any other guide. He gave great recommendations for food as he is a foodie as well. He should be your number one guide in Iguazu Falls.

All in all, the trip was a huge success and your arrangements made it so.

- Patty C. (Alpharetta, GA)
Photographed at Machu Picchu

We knew we wanted to go someplace extravagant and memorable for our honeymoon, but we didn't expect it to be affordable, too. SA Expeditions guided us through Peru and Ecuador, seamlessly planning every step of our fantastic journey. We relaxed in Paracas, then island-hopped through the Galapagos, then hiked the Inca Trail and saw Machu Picchu! At every step of the way, we were met by fantastic guides, stayed in wonderful hotels, and were given great tips for further exploration. It was just the right mixture of hand-holding and complete freedom. The trip has left us with memories that will last forever!

- Jesse & Kimiye L. (Brooklyn, NY)
Photographed at Inca Trail

SA Luxury is the most caring and accommodating group of people I have ever had the pleasure to travel with. They made my experience in Peru easy and lively. They were ALWAYS on time, with a smile on their face and a bottle of water in their hands. They know service! Each member was incredibly friendly, always available, and knew exactly what we were looking for.

My fiance and I, both resident physicians, were in dire need of a vacation. We knew that we both love adventure but like to come home to a relaxing atmosphere. SA knew exactly what we were talking about and accommodated our trip towards these goals. I couldn't have asked for a better agency!

They also had exceptional tour guides that spoke English beautifully and had riveting stories; they were also incredibly friendly. It's special when you can easily spend all day with these guides and treat them as friends. And it wasn't just the people involved, it was also everything else....the choice of hotels, the cars that drove us everywhere, the appropriate times for the airlines, the fact they set up all of the shuttles, tickets, trains, cars, and airlines within the country. It was perfect! Everything was taken care of!! All we had to do was show up! 

- Anil & Shwetha K. (Glenwood Landing, NY)
Photographed at Sacred Valley

We greatly enjoyed our two week trip to Peru-- our custom itinerary allowed us to see everything we really wanted to, and a few other things we weren't expecting. It was packed with activities but with lots of time for rest and exploration. You seem to have thought of everything! Our accommodations throughout were exceptional-- we really liked both the Inkaterra as well as the Casa Andina hotels we stayed in. All were friendly and comfortable places to rest, with great food too!

Special credit must be given to our guides-- Wilson at Inkaterra, Marko in Cusco, and Javier with Wayki Treks on the Inca trail. All were knowledgeable, passionate, and really made the trip a pleasure. They really were exemplary ambassadors for Peru. Please give them our thanks again if you have the chance!

Thanks again for the great trip, we will definitely recommend SA Expeditions in the future (in fact we already have!).

- Simon O. (Hamilton, Ontario)
Photographed at Peru

I had such a WONDERFUL time! Marco and our driver were so fantastic and I really felt as if I'd made two new friends on the trip. In addition to you being so helpful with the late minute change of plans, Marco was a wonderful tour guide and he took such good care of us. He was extremely knowledgeable and professional, and when it came to the train delay (which was obviously mother nature's fault and not that of SA Luxury), he worked very hard to keep us entertained with an additional tour in town, to find us accommodations that evening should we have to stay overnight, and he was diligent in getting us on the first train out of town. It was also so nice to know that SA was checking in us and to make sure everything moving along. I really felt in safe hands.

Again, I just had a wonderful time and I would recommend SA Luxury to anyone visiting Machu Picchu. I also look forwarding to using SA when I visit one of the other cities you service. Thanks again for a fun, safe, entertaining, and informative vacation!

- Carrie A.(New Orleans, LA
Photographed at Cuzco

Thank you so much for all the personalized planning and attention to detail for our Cusco and Machu Picchu trip. Your services were just what our family of 5 needed. You obviously knew what we would enjoy more than we did, so we really appreciate your advice and your patience while I asked all the “why wouldn't we…” questions. The itinerary, accommodations, transportation, and especially the guide, were all perfect for our family and what we wanted to accomplish.

Some of the pros I'd like to mention: great planning, seamless airport pickup to get us into SA Expeditions' custody and care right from the start, accommodations that were just right, great selection of sights for our limited time, good down-time built into the schedule, very nice transportation, and our guide was the perfect choice for the needs of our family. 

- Keith & Sarah P (Estes Park, CO)
Photographed at Machu Picchu

Thank you and all the team for a wonderful holiday in Peru this summer. From the first moment we landed in Lima we were looked after very professionally and we were so impressed by both our main guides, Patty and Fernando. They were friendly and extremely knowledgeable and both really went out of their way to ensure we had the fullest experience of each place we visited - we were sad to say goodbye to both of them! All our hotels were of the highest standard and our drivers were professional and friendly. The whole experience was action filled but relaxing because all the practical arrangements were so well planned. We will recommend you wholeheartedly to anyone thinking of a trip to South America. Thanks to you all again.

- Jenny, Richard, Lucy, Charlotte and Joseph (United Kingdom)
Photographed at Sacred Valley

Our trip to Peru was one we will never forget, and many thanks goes to Staci at SA Expeditions for her help in taking care of all the details. Staci was always very responsive and made the whole process go very smoothly. Even when I was in a remote mountainside village in Peru with very poor rural WiFi, somehow she received my email and responded in no time. The Machu Picchu Lodge to Lodge trek via the Salkantay trail with Mountain Lodges of Peru was amazing, and was bookended by wonderful arrangements in Cusco. Allison took great care of us while in Cusco. We had the best time, and cannot thank Staci and the team at SA Luxury enough! 

- Katherine & Jon (New York, NY)
Photographed at Machu Picchu

Our trip to Peru was one we will never forget, and many thanks goes to Staci at SA Expeditions for her help in taking care of all the details. Staci was always very responsive and made the whole process go very smoothly. Even when I was in a remote mountainside village in Peru with very poor rural WiFi, somehow she received my email and responded in no time. The Machu Picchu Lodge to Lodge trek via the Salkantay trail with Mountain Lodges of Peru was amazing, and was bookended by wonderful arrangements in Cusco. Allison took great care of us while in Cusco. We had the best time, and cannot thank Staci and the team at SA Luxury enough! 

- Katherine & Jon (New York, NY)
Photographed at Machu Picchu

We were absolutely thrilled with my 40th birthday trip. Thank you, Kristina, and SA Expeditions for providing us with a perfect itinerary that balanced touring and relaxation, impeccable luxury accommodations, and experienced and likeable guides. Thank you so much! 

- Sarah-Marie (New York, NY)
Photographed at Iguazu Falls

The trip was everything we expected and more. Every step of the way your organization was there to help us. The arrangements were smooth. The accommodations were excellent in all the places we stayed, especially the hotel near the Nazca Lines. It was amazing! Not speaking the language, I know that we could not have even come close to the arrangements you made for us.

Every guide you had meet us brought something new and special to our trip. Kathleen and I peppered them all with questions about the society and culture of Peru, the hazard of touring with history teachers. Actually arriving in Machu Picchu was extraordinary! It was more than I ever imagined. It is hard to imagine the loss of culture and society that the Spanish caused, but seeing what remained allowed us to picture the remarkable intelligence of the native Peruvian people.

We felt comfortable and safe and relaxed the entire time we were there. I tell everyone I know that is thinking about a trip to South America to call SA Expeditions. They will take care of you and make your trip seamless and enjoyable. Thank you again for all your efforts. ',

- Joanne D. & Kathleen G. (Pennsylvania, USA)
Photographed at Machu Picchu

We very much enjoyed our visit to Peru and were very pleased with SA Expeditions and the marvelous trip that you arranged. I very much appreciated how quickly you replied to any question. Overall, I would say that everything worked out exactly as you had outlined. The hotels and transfers were all excellent. The tours of Cusco and Lima were fantastic. Our only problem with our visit to Cusco is that it wasn't a day or two longer. The Inti Raymi was very interesting and your advice as how to participate was excellent and very valuable.

We had a marvelous trip to Peru and the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu. SA Luxury provided excellent accommodations and amazing tours. The private tours were wonderfully arranged and we were able to see far more than would have been possible on our own. Staci and SA Luxury thought of everything. This was by far the easiest trip that we have ever planned and we look forward to visiting South America with SA Expeditions again.

Thanks again. We had a great trip -- this was for our 20th wedding anniversary and we really enjoyed the adventure.

- Joe & Gretchen R. (Morton IL)
Photographed at Inca Trail

It was a wonderful trip. Thank you so much. All the arrangements went smoothly and we really enjoyed our guides. M arcos was exceptional and the fellow who first greeted us in Cuzco also was great and extremely helpful. Our driver in Cuzco/Machu Picchu also was terrific. We also really enjoyed the nature guides we had at Amazonica. It was an incredible experience and the lodging was top rate.

We went piranha fishing while in the Amazon basin and the other couple who went with us were also very happy customers of yours. We recommended your company to a few folks we met during the rain forest portion of our trip who were interested in exploring other parts of South America in the future.

With sincerest thanks for a great experience! 

- Paul & Paige G. (Mount Kisco, NY)
Photographed at Peru

Our trip was terrific. Nearly everything was beyond our expectations. Mostly I attribute this to your careful arrangement of every detail. You are a pro and I appreciate your individual involvement and availability when I had questions. I normally do things myself, but on a trip such as this I know I could not have done nearly as well. Having so many things taken care of by competent people made this trip a success. <br /><br />
Perhaps at the top of the list was our guide, Marco. He was superb: friendly, knowledgeable and took the time to teach us about what we were seeing. Our driver too was excellent. The accommodations in Cusco, particularly were quite nice. We enjoyed the pace of the tour, the sites, food, truly the entire experience.<br /><br />
On the trip down the Sacred Valley, each site seemed more impressive than the one before. I thought Machu Picchu would be anti-climactic. I was wrong about that. It was by far the most impressive in terms of scale and the mere accomplishment of design, construction and setting. 

- Lester M. (Falls Church, VA)
Photographed at Machu Picchu

Peru was absolutely wonderful. First I want to say a huge thanks for all your work in planning the trip, and especially for your help with trying to figure out alternatives for Sachi. She was of course disappointed that she wasn't able to go in the end, but you made the whole thing very easy and I can't thank you enough for that.

Second, all the folks in Peru were amazing. This is the first time I've been on a trip that wasn't self-planned, and I was blown away by how much I learned from the guides and personal tours. The Inkaterra lodge was beautiful, the food was great, and all the staff were so pleasant and helpful. Si, Kim, and I had a lot of fun birding, hiking, etc.

Overall, I was most impressed with Marko and the Cusco/Sacred Valley/Machu Picchu experience. He was fantastic -- extremely personable and so knowledgeable. Our discussions about the history and political economy of the Inca and pre-Inca were the big highlight for me. I hope you'll pass on my special thanks to Marko and let him know how impressed I was. 

- Jamie B. (Halifax, Canada)
Photographed at Machu Picchu

We wanted to thank SA Expeditions for a truly amazing adventure. The Galapagos and Machu Picchu has always been two of the top places my wife, myself, and our kids have wanted to visit. Combining them into one trip was something we never thought of. SA Expeditions made this incredible journey seamless.

From the initial planning stages with Riva, the amazing tour guides in Quito/ Cusco/ the Galapagos, and of course Machu Picchu, we had a one of a kind experience. My family has travelled throughout the world (Asia/ Europe/ North America/ New Zealand/ and Africa). This was our first South American Adventure, and it rated up there as one of our top vacations.

I wanted to give a special thanks to Rafael of the Galapagos Legend cruise, who was an amazing tour guide, extremely patient, and very accommodating. Marcos took great care of us as well as Wilbur throughout our Peru travels. Finally Oscar made sure our short tour in Lima was all encompassing, and even there we were only there for a few hours, we didn't miss out on anything. Thank you again SA Expeditions for making this a very memorable experience for my family and myself. 

- Milan, Pinkie, Devon, Dillan & Maya S. (Bakersfield, CA)
Photographed at Galapagos Islands

Our trip was a dream come true for us. Our expectations were exceeded tremendously. The accommodations were great. A wonderful breakfast was served everywhere we went. We were not expecting that inclusion. Of course the highlight of the trip was the trek.We LOVED our guide and his crew. Who knew such wonderful food could be prepared out of backpacks. Our last day in Lima we enjoyed walking to the market, eating at LaMar, and spending the rest of the day watching surfers. It was wonderful.

Every step of our adventure was planned with great care. The places and people SA Luxury put us in contact with were wonderful. Peruvian people are the friendliest and have the best food. Of all the countries I have visited, this trip topped them all. I will definitely use tour agency again and encourage others to try you out. 

- Dana, Chad, and Kip C. (Lake Charles, Lousisana)
Photographed at Peru

I am truly grateful to SA Expeditions for making my Peru holiday a memorable one. I have traveled all over the world but this trip definitely topped my list from Lima to trekking the Inca Trail up to Machu Picchu.

A huge thank you to Riva and all the wonderful guides that made my trip amazing. I will use SA Expeditions again for Patagonia next year. 

- Julie L. (Hong Kong)
Photographed at Machu Picchu

Over all our South America experience land and cruise was wonderful. When we arrived in Iguazu our guide took us directly to the falls. The falls on the Argentina side were magnificent and we took the zodiac ride under the falls! It was so wet, even Andy's wallet got wet in his pocket. That was one of the highlights. We celebrated Andy's birthday doing the zodiac. It was scary but fun. Over all experience was good and we would like to do it again in the future.',

- Donna O. & Andrew K (Carmichael, CA)
Photographed at Iguazu Falls

Although I have lived in Peru for several years, I wanted to make sure that my parents' first trip to Peru was exceptional. I had very particular ideas about what I wanted our trip to be like, so I contacted Staci with all of my ideas and she was able to create the perfect itinerary for us. Our private tours were just the pace that we wanted so we could enjoy our trip, but not be exhausted by the end of it. Our private guide, Marco, was also really knowledgeable and really added to our whole experience. Thank you. 

- Emily G. (Texas)
Photographed at Machu Picchu

My husband and I just returned from a 9 day trip to Peru. From the moment we contacted SA Expeditions to inquire about travel to Peru to the follow-up after we returned from our trip, we received top notch service. Kristina, our travel advisor, was always quick to respond to all of our questions and concerns and planned a perfect trip that was tailored specifically to our interests. Each and every property that we stayed at fit the description and service level that was promised and every guide and driver was professional, on time, knowledgeable, and, most of all friendly.

We were pleased to have a guide, Silver, in Cusco and Machu Picchu with years of experience under his belt, as he was able to answer all of our questions about the rich history of Peru. Having extensive personal experience in the travel industry, it is extremely difficult to plan travel that is flawless, but SA Expeditions did just that. We had the trip of a lifetime and will absolutely return to South America in the future and will, without hesitation, have SA Expeditions plan our next adventure.

- Heidi & Konstantin (Rochester, MA)
Photographed at Peru

Everything you arranged was perfect! Allison met us at the airport and escorted us to the hotel, and escorted us back to the airport on our departure. Jose (and our "super" driver Wilfred) met us punctually each day and provided as much in-depth information as we requested. We really enjoyed meeting and traveling with Jose in the highlands. Both he and Wilfred were most accommodating.

Sophia was terrific, very knowledgeable of Lima and a very pleasant person to be with. Seemed like a friend almost immediately. We did cut the city tour short by eliminating the visit to the silver museum (due to early departure the following morning) but the tour did give us a general feel of the city, which is what we wanted. Thank you, all arrangements were exact. ',

- Steve & Gayle (Fort Walton Beach, FL)
Photographed at Machu Picchu

Dan and I really enjoyed our time with SA Expeditions from beginning to end. The service overall was great. We appreciated the balance of guides, who were there exactly when we needed them, but were not abrasive and allowed us our own time.

All of the restaurant and hotel recommendations were exactly what we wanted. We ate both delicious high-end cuisine and local food. Dan's favorite part was probably when our guide in Cusco took him to a local "Polleria" for chicken and chips. The hotels in both Cusco and Machu Picchu were literally the best hotels either of us had ever stayed in.

Machu Picchu was obviously a highlight. We both appreciated being on our own schedule, but also that the guide had a structured tour in mind. We also liked the differing histories we received in Lima and Cusco. Our guide in Cusco gave us all the information we could possibly want about the Incans, while our guide in Lima made sure to focus on parts of history outside of the Incans.

The only thing that did not go as planned was the weather, which made us happy. We were told to expect rain in Cusco and Machu Picchu, and fog in Lima. We had nothing but sunshine the entire time.

Overall, we could not have been happier with our tour. Thank you so much for a wonderful trip.

- Grace & Daniel L. (London, UK)
Photographed at Machu Picchu

We really enjoyed our guided tour. The accommodations were outstanding along with our tour guide, Marco. Everything was very organized and planned out. Cusco city was a pleasant surprise. We truly enjoyed the restaurants there and felt very safe on all our outings. Machu Picchu exceeded our expectations. Marco did a wonderful job navigating me (Carol) through steep areas since I am afraid of heights. We will highly recommend your tour company to all our friends. Thanks to you, Riva, for all the effort planning this trip. 

- David & Carol C. (Bellefontaine, OH)
Photographed at Machu Picchu

My wife and I love to travel and take educational tours, so when we wanted to see Machu Picchu and the Galápagos Islands, after researching different tour companies, I contacted SA Expeditions. From the very beginning I dealt with Riva and found her to be most knowledgeable, helpful, and very responsive to my questions as well as promptly returning my telephone calls. When she was away, her partners were the same.

My wife and I had a wonderful 18 day trip to Peru and Ecuador. The accommodations were great and the tour guides were excellent. They went out of their way to point out places of special interest or which were not on the itinerary. I would not hesitate to recommend the company for your South American travel needs and we will be using them in future for travel to Brazil and Argentina.

- Deodutt & Chaula P. (Fort Myers, FL)
Photographed at Lima

We thought that your company, SA Expeditions, was fantastic in organizing our whole vacation. We felt that our whole experience was wonderful and all of the activities were once-in-a-lifetime experiences. We are writing to you right now because we didn't want to miss the opportunity to tell you how great your company was in organizing our vacation. We even lost a suitcase on the way there and you were instrumental in helping us get it returned the next day. We felt safe and secure with all of our transfers and all of our tour guides. Thank you again for our great trip! 

- Stephanie, Amy & Beth Anne (New York, NY)
Photographed at Peruvian Desert

We would use SA Expeditions again and will recommend to all our friends to use your services. We felt taken care of and had no worries. The connections, reservations and provisions were wonderful! The people we worked with were extraordinary and we felt we made real connections with all of them. Especially wonderful was Allison, whom we shared the experience in the Amazon and she took the time to show us the market in Cusco and help with our plane reservations we had through another company.

Our guide in the Amazon was Carlos and we cannot say enough good things about how he helped us to understand the rain forest and his passion made it come alive. He was so happy to show us the jungle and was so happy when we spotted some monkeys or had other special moments. Jose was our guide in Cusco and Machu Picchu and he was just perfect and we enjoyed him so much.

We will always remember our hotel in Cusco and the wonderful staff and our room in Machu Picchu in that beautiful setting. It was the trip of a lifetime and your firm made it happen in the most perfect way. Thank you and the wonderful people working for SA Luxury!

- Clyde & Krimhilde B. (Irving, TX)
Photographed at Amazon

We had a wonderful time and just loved Argentina! If we had stayed a few more days, we could have helped celebrate the election of the new Pope!

The two hotels in Buenos were terrific and we loved spending time in the two different areas. So much to do and we were so lucky to have been able to get tickets to the first Philharmonic performance of the season at the Teatro Colon, thanks to Carolina, who was just terrific. A tour of the opera house was definitely a highlight and then to be able to attend a performance was very exciting. I've been to a number of opera houses worldwide—it's one of my goals when I visit a foreign city.

The hotel in Iguazu was definitely unique and we enjoyed our stay there. I'm guessing that the Falls were the most spectacular part of our trip! Linda has seen Victoria Falls and said these far surpassed them. We were so close to them and since it was so hot and humid, were happy to get sprayed while viewing them and then to get absolutely drenched on the boat! It sure felt good.

Once again, many thanks for your responsiveness and setting up a wonderful trip for us. 

- Ginny C. (Douglaston, NY)
Photographed at Iguazu Falls

Thanks for all your help in making this a trip we will always remember!! The logistics were perfect, the accommodations were even better than we expected (and our expectations were already high) and the guides were fabulous. In particular, Fernando's knowledge of all things Inca – and his enthusiasm – made Cuzco and Machu Picchu absolutely a breath-taking experience. We were at Machu Picchu at 6:45 AM and there was some morning fog. When it cleared in about 30 minutes and the Andes became visible it was like a curtain going up on a Broadway show; it was a staggering view. My wife and I are very experienced travelers – and this was one of the best adventures of our lives! I have only praise for everyone at SA Expeditions. 

- Steve C. (New York, NY)
Photographed at Machu Picchu

Thank you so much for a wonderful trip! Craig and I have had Machu Picchu on our lifetime list for several years, and you all made it a wonderful experience! Your company gave us just the kind of vacation we enjoy - supreme accommodations, gourmet cuisine, wonderful guides with impeccable English, and the grand scenery of Peru.

I especially wanted to mention several things: first of all, I truly appreciated your personal help in preparing for the trip and answering my multitude of questions. Being prepared for a trip and having knowledge of what to expect, including special tips on staying comfortable and saving time is one of my biggest concerns. Secondly, David - we missed our connecting flight from Lima to Cuzco. Within the hour of calling him, David had us rebooked and ready to get back onto our vacation. Talk about service and saving our vacation!

Third, Allison. It was so nice to have a smiling face greet us as we started our dream vacation in Cuzco. She was a lovely host. Fourth - our beloved Demas. He was able to accommodate our last minute request for a Sacred Valley Tour and was also our guide to the quaint city of Cuzco. We are avid travelers and have been around the world, from Rome to Manila and many places in between. Demas was the BEST cultural tour guide we have ever had. His passion for Peru and the amazing Incan culture infuses your day with magic. Last but not least we cannot say enough about our trekking group - Wayki treks - Frankie and his crew kept us motivated, well fed, and comfortable along a gorgeous and challenging trail. Our journey was fantastic! Thank you ever so much! 

- Amabel & Craig (Orlando, FL)
Photographed at Inca Trail

Thank you so much for our flawless trip. We cannot thank you enough for the treatment we received. You (personally) responded to all of our pre-trip questions promptly and thoroughly, and at every point in our trip we felt secure and confident in the hands of your team. Of special note is the prompt and professional manner that you, Allison, and Jose Angell responded to our unexpected change of plans.

We want to particularly thank Jose Angell. He was passionate in telling the story of the Incan people. He was knowledgeable of the Incan abilities in architecture, engineering, construction and even hydrology. He explained the religion of the Incans, coinciding with our tours of Machu Picchu, Cusco and the Cathedrals.

We will not hesitate to return to South America. There is much more to see in Peru and when the time comes we will consider only SA to guide us. Thank you again for showing us the wonderful country, people and customs of Peru!

- Richard & Janet E. (Big Lake, MN)
Photographed at Sacred Valley

We just have to say that we enjoyed our trip a lot, all of us, and we want to congratulate and to thank you VERY MUCH. Everything was perfect! The good choice of hotels, the competence of the guides, the kindness of the drivers, the good rhythm of the trip... And we have been so lucky with the weather so we could see the Machu Picchu and Lake Titicaca with sun! We were sorry not to see you in Lima before leaving so as to thank you so MUCH. But we'll see you next time!

- Gwenn & Antoine H. (France)
Photographed at Sacred Valley

My husband and I just returned from an absolutely spectacular trip to Chile and Argentina planned by SA Expeditions. Not only was the trip planned to perfection -- with a perfect mix of city activities and adventure travel, but because of the meticulous work SA Expeditions had done, it was the easiest trip I've ever taken. Everything was paid in advance, which allowed us to relax and just enjoy everything. We were met in each airport by English speaking guides, who answered any questions we might have, and all of our accommodations were perfectly situated in areas that were beautiful, walkable and safe.

The thing that really blew me away, though, was the crescendo of the trip. While everything we did and everywhere we stayed was top-notch, each successive stop and activity just got a little more wonderful than the last. The result was a truly fantastic week and a half that we'll always cherish. I highly recommend SA Expeditions to anyone looking to travel in South America, whether you're looking for a low-key trip or an action-packed adventure. We got a wonderful mix of both and enjoyed every second of it!

- Danielle V. (Alexandria, VA)
Photographed at Patagonia

Our recently completed South American adventure was special for us and beautifully and professionally organized by you and your colleagues. I will unequivocally recommend your services to anyone interested in an adventure similar to the one we enjoyed immensely.

We absolutely loved Peru, the amazing sights, the gourmet cuisine, and our excellent guides. And thank you so much for booking us dinner at the hotel for New Year's Eve. We had no idea what to expect, but while we dined on a superb five-course menu, the entertainment which lasted almost two hours was incredible. It has to be one of our best New Year's ever!!! Additionally, I had a marvelous time with our guide Mary in Cusco and Machu Picchu. It was a thrilling and educational experience we will always remember and we hope to do it again sometime in the future. We brought home with us so many wonderful memories. Thank you for helping make the trip so special.

- Doyle R. (Monaco)
Photographed at Machu Picchu

We really enjoyed our two week tour of South America! Highlights were Patagonia scenery and the boat ride at Iguazu Falls. Amazing… nothing like we have seen before! Our tour guides were friendly, prompt and knowledgeable, in particular Alisha in Santiago and Bernie in Buenos Aires. The hotels were also welcoming and all a bit different. We would have no hesitation in recommending SA Expeditions as you were so flexible and made the booking process easy. We hope to return and explore the north of South America in the near future! Thanks for your continued assistance during the course of the trip; it has been a most memorable holiday experience. 

- Natalie & Patrick (Perth, Australia)
Photographed at Patagonia

This was our second experience booking a trip to South America with SA Expeditions and I truly cannot say anything other than positive things about working with them.

Our first trip was to Peru to hike the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu. Amazing Trip! My mother-in-law broke down in tears of joy when she realized her childhood dream as she hiked through the Sun Gate on day 4 of our trek to see the breathtaking Machu Picchu for the first time. That same trip we had a flight get canceled on Christmas day so we had to stay in Lima an extra night before flying to Cusco. SA Expeditions not only handled booking us a hotel and the coordinating of a new flight, but the owner, Nick, invited us to have dinner with him and his family! On Christmas Day! Who does that?!

So when we wanted to head to South America again, this time Argentina, it was a no brainer to call SA Expeditions. We procrastinated as usual and didn't call them until 2 weeks before we wanted to travel, but we worked with Kristina and they pulled it off for us. Flights, hotels, guides, transfers: they planned it all and tailored it to the things that my wife and I enjoy. Our Argentina trip was another incredible trip thanks to SA Expeditions. Needless to say... I would highly recommend them. 

- Heath & Terah H. (Florida)
Photographed at Iguazu Falls

We were very pleased with our trip to Peru that we booked through SA Luxury. Our representative, Staci Steele, was very helpful and extremely responsive throughout the entire process (leading up to and during the trip). We were promptly picked up and transferred to all of our destinations in Peru and everyone was friendly and helpful. Our tour guide during our day in Lima (Franz) was very knowledgeable and his English was excellent. Our tour guide in Cuzco and Machu Picchu (Marco) was so thoughtful, friendly, and professional, and he was also very knowledgeable. We really enjoyed spending three days with him and learning about Peru's history and its culture.

I cannot imagine what this trip would have been like without the help of SA Luxury (especially since my Spanish is not very good). We would definitely recommend SA Expeditions and if we go back to South America we will use them again! 

- Katherine & Heath H. (Eranston, IL)
Photographed at Sacred Valley

We would like to thank you for all you did to make our trip so wonderful. From Lima, to Cuzco, to Machu Picchu, to Sacred Valley, our trip was absolutely amazing. The coordination of all the events for 8 people located thousands of miles away is never easy, yet you came up with a perfect way to do it, satisfying all of us. The nine days we spent visiting Peru would not have been successful without you and SA Expeditions. The organization from beginning to end can only be achieved by such experts and knowledgeable staff such as your organization has. You have definitely earned our business for the future.

Our guides were very experienced, full of knowledge, and most importantly - super nice. Jose spent the most time with us. He was excellent in explaining the details at every opportunity, location, and was extremely perceptive to our concerns and questions. I wish I had someone like Jose at every trip I take! Frank, the guide in Lima, demonstrated deep knowledge of the culture, country and ancient traditions. He spent the whole day with the eight of us and none of us felt like we were foreigners.

- Mack & Grace, Barbara & Peter, Elizabeth & Janusz, Zig & Iwona (Illinois)
Photographed at Machu Picchu

Peru doesn't seem to fade away in my memory! Everything went well. Your guiding notes provided day-by-day logistics and Mary's local knowledge was extremely useful in Sacred Valley. Our particular interest in Inka history, and our desire to climb every hill was not an issue for our guide at all. Our lodge in Amazon seemed to be the right choice to experience Amazon. We didn't restrict ourselves with the touristic activities and hired a boat for a 12 hour fishing journey near the Bolivian border, which was a remarkable experience. In short, we felt in good hands during the entire journey. Thanks for everything. 

- Ali (Turkey)
Photographed at Amazon

Our trip to Peru was fantastic. Every moment lived up to our expectations - the historical sites, the villages, the nature, the people... Thanks to your suggested itinerary we covered the Sacred Valley, Cuzco, Machu Picchu and the Amazon by giving each the time it deserved, never feeling like we hadn't spent sufficient time at a particular location. The logistics worked seamlessly and the hotels of choice were all very convenient. Thanks to our guide - Mary - we got a very good insight to the local traditions as well as learning about Inca history. Mary also provided spot on tips about restaurants and was extremely helpful in our hunt for local crafts.

Our days in the Amazon will always remain in my memory as a unique experience - with jungle walks, canoe trips, wildlife spotting and ultimately piranha fishing in a remote lake somewhere far far away. You can count on us as your verbal ambassadors in this part of the world. Again, thank you to the whole SA Expeditions team for organising such a special vacation.

- Alp (Turkey)
Photographed at Machu Picchu

I had the most fantastic experience and a big thanks to you and all at SA for making it so wonderful.

Cusco was a dream, very quaint with cobbledstone roads and great architecture. Though it was a short stay, we squeezed in time to see the Ruins, Sun Temple, Cathedral and Square where thanks to your recommendations I picked up some really nice stuff from Il-aria and Sol-Alpaca. Thanks also for the restaurant recommendations, we loved them.

The next day once we reached Aguas Caliente the hotel collected our bags at the station and we went straight to the Lost City. WOW!!! It was all that I had read and more. There's just something so magical...so energetic...so calming....it's really amazing. As suggested, we did Wayna Picchu and the views kept getting better at every level. I think you should recommend this to all your clients.

The second part of my trip was to the Amazon. It was a dream. I managed to do quite a few jungle activities including the twilight river cruise, the day trip to Lake Sandoval, and the tree top canopy walk (my favorite). Another thing which I did was catch the sunrise in the Amazon. It was just amazing. I guess I was really lucky to see sunrise both in Machu Picchu and the Amazon.

Once again, Riva, thanks so much for making the entire trip so memorable. It's been one of the amazing holidays I've had so far! 

- Rohini M. (Mumbai, India)
Photographed at Amazon

Kristina: This was one of the most fantastic trips that we have ever been on. We feel like were challenged during the day and pampered in the evening. The hiking was some of the most severe and exciting that we have ever done and the evenings at the lodges were ***** five star… from massages and hot tubs to gourmet dining!

We had a fantastic international group that hopefully will be lifelong friends and the guides Juan and Helen were in the end friends and family. There was absolutely nothing about the trip that you could have done better for us and if you knew us better you would realize what a credit to you that this is. Thanks again! 

- Alan O. (Butler, PA)
Photographed at Machu Picchu

Riva and Nick: I am still trying to come down from my recent trip to South America. We were treated so well in each of our destinations. Hotels, tours, guides, drivers and all the extras, far exceeded our expectations. Paulina was superb in Buenos Aires - when we weren't being shown the highlights of the city, we were following her advice on other places to see and activities to do. Sylvano in Iguazu went above and beyond our expectations. He was so delightful, like an old friend, and he had great suggestions about other sights and where to get an amazing meal.

We spent five nights in Rio de Janeiro and had an adventure every day. One day we rented bikes to strike off on our own, but our city tour and group jeep tours were superb as well. We also visited Santa Teresa and spent the better part of the day wandering the streets of this lovely bohemian community.

The icing on the cake of course came in Peru where we got to meet Riva and share a meal with her. It was so nice to put a face to a name. Riva went out of her way to help us with every detail and request. Cuzco was such an amazing surprise and we were lucky to acclimatize there quickly. This city/town is such a gem and I'd like to spend many more days there soon.

I have saved the best for last, as our guide Jose quickly became a soul mate. He took us on an awesome tour of the city, giving us insight into the history, culture, and color of his hometown. The tour of the Sacred Valley was equally as exciting as we visited Chinchero, Moray, and the salt mines of Maras before arriving at the fortress of Ollantaytambo, all in one day! Of course the next day's tour of Machu Picchu was outstanding. Everything you see in the magazines but so much more when you are there. Our hike up to the Sun Gate was challenging but worth every minute and actually being in the site was inspiring. We could have spent many more hours there just soaking in the ambience.

We were still in store for more excitement with the stunning train ride to Lake Titicaca, the floating islands and Isla Taquile, both so culturally and historically different. I found Peru, the Peruvians, the towns and cities, the sites so peaceful and spiritual. Please don't let anyone mess with it until I return.

- Anne P. (Alberta, Canada)
Photographed at Rio de Janeiro

I would love to thank Riva and the SA Expeditions team for making us feels so spoiled during our eight day trip to Peru. It was the first time we let someone else do all the planning for us and we were not disappointed at all; instead, we were pleasantly surprised by your attention to even the smallest detail of our trip. It was by far the best trip we have ever taken. I often find myself daydreaming about it when I am working.

Our trip took us to Lima, Cuzco, the Sacred Valley, and finally to our main destination Machu Picchu. I have to say it was quite a journey getting there but we enjoyed every stop along the way, every walk we took, and the train rides were incredible. We enjoyed having only two guides during our trip, they were very nice and professional, never rushing us and our driver did a wonderful job making stops so we could have the most amazing views ever. I have to say we were sad to say goodbye to our guide Marcos and our driver Jose Luis, they made us feel at home.

We were in Peru celebrating my husband's 40th birthday and we were touched by my husband's birthday present waiting at our hotel when we got back to Cuzco from Machu Picchu. My husband is a very humble man and his dream was to visit Machu Picchu I have to say it gave me great satisfaction to see him enjoy the trip and I am very glad I chose SA Expeditions from the others. I will definitely be using your services to explore other counties in South America. I can't say it enough: THANK YOU SA Expeditions for planning this amazing trip to Peru.

- Gina & Elias F. (Indio, CA)
Photographed at Machu Picchu

Riva: Let me start with a simple statement: You, Nick, your local contacts, your guides, etc. were all FANTASTIC.

First, your suggestion to put us in the airport hotel in Lima was right on, the ease of the hotel made the transitions to the Andes, the Amazon, and back, really simple. We loved Cusco and the day trips. Our guide (Meija) for our trips there was VERY knowledgeable and never rushed us (I take lots of photos). I don't know how anyone could get a good feel for the Inca civilization without spending the time we spent. We enjoyed the city itself, its markets, restaurants, etc., and it was also helpful to take the time to adjust to the altitude. The Sacred Valley and Chinchero were great and Ollantaytambo was super. El Albergue Hotel was amazing, with its gardens and old world ambiance. Its restaurant was A+ and the large, made-to-order breakfast was a bit hit before our Inca Trail Hike.

Next was the Andean Express to Puno: Beautiful ride, good food, enjoyable entertainment. At this point we were dealing with Nick to cancel the Amantani home visit because Marilyn was really sick. It worked out great, and Nick got us to Uros and the next day to Taquile.

Finally, the Iquitos cruise experience. First, we lucked out as for our 4-day cruise there were only SEVEN guests -- and a staff of 22!! The guides were amazing, especially Juan, who has spoken on environment and conservation internationally. The food was better than we expected -- way better. I am sure it was as good as any top restaurant in Lima, etc.

In summary, I would STRONGLY recommend you and your company. Nick's 24-hour availability was very helpful when Marilyn got sick and we needed to change plans for Puno. Your work with me, understanding what we wanted our experience to be, and finding the most appropriate places to go, stay, etc. We've been on personal tours before, and our experience with you, Nick, and your local staff, will assure we keep doing it.

THANKS again for a SUPER, LUXURY EXPEDITION.

- Ric & Marilyn H. (Sunnyvale, CA)
Photographed at Cuzco

Thank you, Staci and SA Expeditions, for preparing a thoughtful agenda for our trip to Peru and Machu Picchu. We picked Machu Picchu because of our interests in archeology and ancient civilizations, particularly in the Americas.

All events fell nicely into place. We were met at each travel point by your guides and drivers who took us to the hotels. The hotels themselves were of very high quality and at each place the staff went out of their way to see to all of our needs. Kristina, our first contact with SA Expeditions in Peru, introduced us to our hotel and acquainted us with excellent restaurants nearby which we patronized. We were not disappointed. The highlight of our stay in Cuzco was the museum of pre-Columbian artifacts, many of which were thousands of years old. The artistry of these ancient pieces competes with the skills of today.

The following morning, we met our guide, Harvey Martinez, a fluent polyglot with in-depth knowledge of every aspect of Peru. He was particularly good at contrasting the cultures of the ancient Incas with modern society. He saw that we were well cared for during our trip. Of course, Machu Picchu was the highlight of our trip. Harvey took us through the ‘city' and explained the purpose of each of the buildings.

We thank you again for your expertise in organizing our trip. We appreciate the time you took to meet us and spend some time with us in Lima. The idea of a privately guided tour with all of the details worked out appealed to us. We recommend your organization to anyone looking for a ‘Top Notch' experience. 

- Bruce & Joan N. (Colorado)
Photographed at Sacred Valley

My husband and I have just completed the 6-day Machu Picchu Tour planned and organized by SA Expeditions. Our first thoughts for going to Peru were to see Machu Picchu. We didn't know there were many other things to see in the area.

On our arrival to Cusco we were greeted by Kristina and Milagros, who explained to us in detail our itinerary for the following days. Milagros was very helpful explaining details of Cusco and even accompanied us to the market and explained many details of the culture and different types of vegetables and fruits that one can find in the market. José was our guide for the next 3 days while visiting sights in Cusco, the Sacred Valley, and Machu Picchu. His knowledge of the area was extensive and in spite of our suffering a bit from the high altitude, we were able to climb Wayna Picchu thanks to his encouragement: we couldn´t have done it without his help.

We are very thankful to the staff of SA Expeditions for their help to enable us to have had a smooth and wonderful vacation in Cusco and Machu Picchu. 

- Roy & Zaida (Venezuela)
Photographed at Machu Picchu

Riva: The trip was FANTASTIC!!! We could not have been more thrilled with how everything went! Everything happened so seamlessly, from our city tour in Cusco, to our pick up for the Inca Trail, train ride back to Poroy, and departure from Cusco and Lima! The Inca Trail was truly amazing, you could not have picked a better guide or porters; the level of service we got from everyone on this tour exceeded our expectations by leaps and bounds. Not only was the food on the tour exceptional, the porters went out of their way to bake us a cake for our wedding anniversary with icing and decorations. It was very kind and completely unexpected. Both my husband and I felt great throughout the hike, our guide (Sabi Savil) was very cautious of altitude sickness and made sure we progressed at a speed that was comfortable for everyone. Sabi was very knowledgeable about everything on the trail and was great company throughout the experience!

The hotel in Cusco was great, beds were comfortable and service was very good. I am not sure there was one thing we were unhappy with about this trip! It was just a great time all together! Thanks so much for everything; it truly was a trip of a lifetime! 

- Carling & Ryan S. (Edmonton, Alberta)
Photographed at Machu Picchu

Kristina: When we finally chose to make our dream of traveling to Machu Picchu a reality, we definitely had some trepidation about making the trip. However, the entire staff at SA Luxury made our trip one of the most memorable experiences of our lives. The personal attention we got from the moment we were met by Kristina at the Cusco airport really made us feel like we were right at home. Additionally, our guide Jose was truly a joy to travel with. His significant knowledge of Inca culture coupled with his great sense of humor never made for a dull moment. He was even happy to hike to the summit of Huyana Picchu with us to allay any worries we had, taking pictures of us the entire way. That hike ended up being the highlight of what was overall a wonderful trip. We would highly recommend SA Luxury to anyone, as their professional and personal expertise is second to none! 

- Shalin & Mili P. (New York, NY)
Photographed at Machu Picchu

Riva: Let me first thank you and all the staff at SA Expeditions. We were all impressed by the attention and care we received from every person that we were in contact with throughout our entire trip. We always dreamed of visiting Peru. We finally did it, and to do it with you made our trip incredibly easy and all the more enjoyable. We literally did not have to worry about anything while we were in Peru. Everything was well taken care of. Guides Hans, Jose, and Miguel Angel were exceptional (knowledgeable, amicable, interested in us learning as much as possible, helpful in every sense). We've traveled to other places in the world, and the experience traveling with you was among the best we've had. I will surely recommend anyone who wants to visit Peru to do it with your help.

We also want to say thank you for meeting us in Lima and taking us to the Huaca Pucllana. We know you didn't have to do that, but you were kind enough to do it. Thank you again! 

- Manuel S. (Eden Prairie, MN)
Photographed at Lima

Riva: Thanks mostly to your efforts, our trip was excellent. When you consider we traveled to 6 locations (Lima -> Cuzco -> Sacred Valley -> Machu Picchu -> Cuzco - > Lima) in 8 days without an issue, that is impressive. Add into the mix a dozen or so private tours, transportation to and from dinners and hotels and airports, and a level of service that exceeded even my expectations? The only grade to give is an A+.

The hotels were all excellent. The food was terrific. The people friendly and warm. Our tour guide Carlos was top notch. He went above and beyond to make sure we were very well taken care of. He was extremely well versed in the history and philosophy of the Incas and all the sites we toured. It was truly a remarkable trip that you and your team pulled off trememdously. Thank you so much for all your hard work to make our trip a success.

- Mike & Laura S. (Westfield, NJ)
Photographed at Machu Picchu

Riva: From the first email contact to the last airport drop off, you and SA Expeditions were outstanding. We have travelled all around the world and arranged our own hotels and tours for the most part, so we were a little apprehensive to let someone else do it for us. All I can say about that is you spoiled us! Everything was perfect. Every driver, every guide, every site more than lived up to our expectations. For my wife and I, the trip to Brazil, Argentina, and Peru was a first for us but it certainly won't be the last.

I would like to take time to give a couple of our guides the praise they deserve. Sylvano, who guided us on both sides of Iguazu Falls, was extremely knowledgeable and made us feel very comfortable. Our guide for Machu Picchu, Jose, had passion, pride, and knowledge that brought the Inca culture alive for us and added meaning to things that would have been interesting but meaningless without his explanation. Also, our driver Jose Louis drove safely and respectfully and we felt we were in good hands all the time he was driving. The interaction with all the guides and drivers was respectful and there seemed to be genuine concern that we get the most out of each tour were satisfied when it was over. We will recommend you and your company to anyone who will listen to us. 

- Phillip & Yoko G. (Alberta, Canada)
Photographed at Machu Picchu

As a retiree from the travel industry with more than thirty one years of service, I often hear the sad lament that customer service no longer exists within the industry. Sadly, there is more truth than fiction to that complaint. When I began looking for a company to provide me with the best experience possible for my “bucket list” excursion to Machu Picchu, I chose SA Expeditions. I made the right choice. Customer service is alive and well with this firm.

From our travel consultant, Riva Bacquet, to our guides Sophia, Carlos, and Julia as well as our drivers Joel and Victor, everyone strived to make our experience unforgettable, and succeeded beyond our wildest dreams. We heartily recommend SA Expeditions. Thank You. 

- Charles & Agene P. (Ooltewah, TN)
Photographed at Machu Picchu

My husband and I wanted to take our family on a trip to celebrate our oldest daughter's graduation and to enjoy a family vacation before she went off to college. Our daughters are 18, 16, and 15. We typically plan our own vacations, but felt overwhelmed with the details of traveling to Peru and Machu Picchu. Our trip to Peru planned by SA Luxury was perfect. With someone else taking care of all the details, we were able to relax with our family and enjoy the beauty of Peru. Our guide, Pepe, was a particular highlight as he embraced our group of teenagers. His sayings can still cause my girls to laugh and say, "I miss Pepe.” Our trip to Peru truly was a trip of a lifetime, flawlessly planned by Riva and SA Luxury! 

- Betsey E. (Columbus, OH)
Photographed at Inca Trail

We recently traveled to Peru in August for 17 days. We had an amazing journey traveling through the Amazon in Iquitos, as well as Lima, Arequipa, the Colca Canyon (via Andes Mountains), Puno, Lake Titicaca, Cuzco, and the grand finale: Machu Picchu. All this was possible through the thoughtful and careful planning from Riva. She created an outstanding itinerary. We were able to see and enjoy all the highlights of each destination. The hotels provided were very comfortable and ideally located. The drivers and guides were informative and helpful. Throughout our journey we met lovely people and made friends along the way.

We were happy that Nick (the owner) took the time to meet with us in Cuzco, and he made some recommendations where we could eat the best "cuy." Riva also made recommendations in Lima. Claudia and I (Laura), appreciated all your hard work and planning that made for an unforgettable experience. We are going back to South America very soon and we will use SA Luxury once more. 

- Laura & Claudia (Los Angeles, CA)
Photographed at Sacred Valley

Riva: We wanted to drop you a short note to reiterate how much we enjoyed our trip to Cuzco, the Sacred Valley, and Machu Picchu. SA Expeditions being able to pull together a custom package to fit our exact request was fantastic. The arrangements were superb, the hotels fantastic, the drivers great, but really, Jose, oh wow, he was the BEST guide. 

- Jac & Ginny I. (Fort Worth, TX); Carter & Rochlle K. (Canyon, TX)
Photographed at Machu Picchu

In short: The trip of a lifetime! We had been waiting a very long time to visit the Galapagos, Cusco/Machu Picchu and the Amazon, and asked SA Expeditions to put together a custom-made 18-day itinerary to meet our specific needs. We normally plan our own travel but this time, due to the complexity of our needs and our lack of familiarity with the region, we placed ourselves in Riva's hands: The best travel decision we've ever made!!

At each location we were met by an extremely helpful representative of SA Expeditions who introduced us to our guide. The guides were all local, and passionate about showcasing the area and its history; their subject knowledge was exceptionally broad and deep. What impressed us most about the arrangements was that, as we moved from city to city, someone was always there on time to meet us, even when the airlines tried to throw a wrench into the itinerary! All our hotels were top notch and lived up to their billing.

Our destinations were diverse, and each one delivered memories we'll treasure forever. The Galapagos gave us magical wildlife encounters that far exceeded our wildest dreams: The memories of our up-close-and-personal beach encounter with young sea lions still gives us goose bumps! We swam with penguins, turtles, sea lions, iguanas and giant shoals of fish; we strolled by thousands of nesting pairs of birds with their chicks, none of whom paid us any attention. Amazing! Cusco and Machu Picchu were entirely different experiences, yet nonetheless breathtaking; the whole Machu Picchu experience is awe-inspiring. The Amazon jungle provided yet another contrasting experience - the tarantulas are so much more "impressive" in their natural environment :-)

Would we trust SA Expeditions with our future travel needs? Absolutely. Would we recommend SA Expeditions? Without hesitation. Thank you for a fantastic vacation and for all the hard work you and your team put into its planning and execution.

- Peter & Evie F. (Hampton, NJ)
Photographed at Galapagos Islands

Kristina: Sarah and I just returned home from a once in a life time trip to Lima, Cusco, Machu Picchu, and Puerto Maldonado (Amazon rainforest). Thank you SA Expeditions for the well planned agenda that allowed us to squeeze all of this into an eight day trip!

We had a number of questions leading up to our first South American vacation and Kristina couldn't have been more prompt and thorough with her responses to our questions. When one of our in-country flights was cancelled between cities, Nick and Kristina were in touch with me within hours over the phone and email with solutions to keep our schedule on track. They didn't miss a beat. I don't think we could have ever planned this trip without a travel agent, and I wouldn't want to plan it with anyone other than SA Luxury. Thanks again for all the hard work you put into making our trip so memorable. Now my parents are planning to contact you to start planning a similar trip in 2013!

- Brian & Sarah R. (Chicago, IL)
Photographed at Cuzco

Riva: We had a fantastic holiday!!! We especially loved Machu Picchu and Cuzco, although the altitude did get to all of us over the time there! Mary, our guide in Cuzco/Machu Picchu, was fantastic, she was extremely knowledgeable, accommodating, helpful, and a lovely person; we couldn't recommend her enough. The drivers were all good, the hotels were great. Overall we did have a fantastic holiday, thanks also for all your help in booking/changing flights. 

- Lauren A. (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil)
Photographed at Machu Picchu

Kristina: I just wanted to thank you for all you did; all five of us had the most wonderful trip. Karina was a sweetheart; she took such good care of us, always on time and patient. From the moment we arrived in Cusco, she took care of everything. And our guide Carlos, well, he was just fantastic. We had the best time traveling with him, learning so much about the culture. He's not only a good guide but a good and kind person who makes things come alive with all the extra gadgets he carried in his pockets. If we get to go back again next year, we would love for him to be our guide again.

Because of your wonderful planning, we were able to see and enjoy so much and, believe it or not, all five of us went up the mountain at Machu Picchu. The view from the top is something unexplainable, way too beautiful for words. Thank you so much for everything; you all are "THE BEST." 

- Angelica M. (Austin, TX)
Photographed at Sacred Valley

First, I want to say that SA Expeditions was the best travel company I have ever worked with. I contacted three different companies and Riva with SA Expeditions was the most responsive, spot on company to reply back with all of my inquiries (and I had a lot). From the time we arrived in Lima, Peru, to our departure 12 days later, everything went smoothly and efficiently. Riva spent a lot of time on details and it showed with our lodging, transports, and the people we came into contact with. There was no guesswork or second guessing. When we met up with Riva on our last night in Peru we discovered Riva grew up 30 minutes from our home town and her brother graduated from the same high school as our niece. Small world. We would definitely use SA Expeditions & Riva again for any of our travels in South America. Thanks again for our great memory.

- Bruce & Carolyn W. (San Marcos, CA)
Photographed at Inca Trail

Kristina: I wanted to thank you for our incredible trip to Peru. Even before we started the trip, your help and accessibility was reassuring and I was impressed by the personalized experience you created for us. From the moment we landed, our trip was truly focused on enjoying the local sights and flavors without the hassle of worrying about travel arrangements. We were met immediately and our planned itinerary was reviewed, along with extra tips on what to do in our free time. The personal tours were ideal and showed the essence of Peru in a complete and efficient way. Our tour guide, Harvey, was amazing and not only knowledgeable about Peru and its incredible history, but also about plants, stars, and anything else you can think of. After this trip, I recommend anyone to consider a trip to Peru and I would gladly recommend SA Expeditions to anyone.

- Ritu S. (Houston, TX)
Photographed at Machu Picchu

Riva: My son and I had the most wonderful father/son bonding time in your delightful country (Peru). Normally I don't say this, but our experience with your company was about as perfect as it could possibly be. Everything from representatives to guides to drivers to accommodations, to guinea pig dinners was perfect. Our guide Marcos was totally delightful, full of knowledge, very flexible in scheduling and rather humorous – an ideal guide. Karina our representative was efficient, thorough, and full of enthusiasm. All the hotels were wonderful and all the sites were beautiful. Perhaps I should have asked more information about the hike up the peak behind the Machu Picchu ruins: I could only make it to the first terrace, although my son and Marcos went all the way to the top.

I have been recommending your company to everyone who mentions travel in South America. Perhaps in a year or so we would like to visit Brazil (I lived in Salvador for 2 years when I was young) or the Galapagos or even a repeat in Machu Picchu to have a more relaxed time just soaking in the environment. Thank you so much for being a part of the adventure with my son!

- Phil and Nick W. (Santa Rosa, CA)
Photographed at Sacred Valley

My husband and I have just completed a wonderful 6-day trip to Peru, planned and organized by Riva Bacquet with SA Expeditions. When we first considered going to Peru our intentions were of course to see Machu Picchu. We didn't realize how many other amazing things there were to see in the area. Each day of our trip we saw one amazing sight after another with the climax of course being Machu Picchu!

We've never traveled before with private guides but now we're not sure we'd travel any other way. We were greeted in Cusco by sweet Karina who explained to us in detail our itinerary for the next couple of days. Juan Carlos was our teacher and guide for the next 3 days while visiting sights in Cusco, the Sacred Valley, and Machu Picchu. His knowledge of the area was extensive and he added many authentic touches to our tour like demonstrating games and instruments that were used by the locals. Our driver in Cusco was Renato who navigated us patiently through the many road obstacles and made sure we caught our train on time to Aguas Calientes! All our accommodations were exceptional.

Everything SA Luxury organized for us went very smoothly! We had one small glitch at the end when one piece of our luggage did not make it to Lima. Riva stayed on top of it for us until the luggage was delivered to our hotel. Thank you to everyone with SA Expeditions who helped make this a trip of a lifetime for us! 

- Ron and Janet B. (Marietta, GA)
Photographed at Machu Picchu

We researched a number of different companies when we started planning our trip to Peru, but what stood out immediately about SA Expeditions was their professionalism, response time, and flexibility. The more I talked to Riva, the more options came to light, and the more the plan shaped up to be something specifically tailored to what we wanted out of the trip.

The only parts of the trip we had difficulty with were the parts that we didn't use SA Luxury to plan, and when our initial flight was delayed, Riva was on hand to ensure that everything still fell into place. When planning future trips, the fact that I can count on Riva will be a strong motivator for me to travel to South America again.

- Bill M. (Pittsburgh, PA)
Photographed at Inca Trail

My mom and I had an absolutely FANTASTIC time in Peru, all thanks to the excellent staff and experience at SA Expeditions! Literally every detail of our trip was thoughtfully planned and tailored to our wants and needs! All of the accommodations were beautiful and cozy and everyone who we met through SA Luxury was extremely knowledgeable and kind, always going out of their way to answer any questions we had or help we needed. A definite highlight of the trip was the 4 day Machu Picchu trek that we did. It was one of my mom's life-long goals and I am so glad we got to experience it together and with such a great team of people.

We are used to planning all of our international trips on our own and I cannot tell you what a treat and relief it was to have someone like Riva and her team planning and managing every detail for us! It was so worthwhile because it really allowed us to relax and fully enjoy the experience rather than worry and stress over all of the crazy planning that goes hand-in-hand with traveling. Thank you so much SA Expeditions! This was an experience that my mom and I will never forget.

- Wyndham & Katherine B. (Santa Fe, NM)
Photographed at Inca Trail

David and I just wanted to tell you that we had some really awesome times exploring Peru's many treasures. SA Luxury gets the lion's share of the credit putting together this wonderful experience. Normally, I plan my own international travel, but this was a great adventure. SA Expeditions made sure all out hotel arrangements were nice and our tours were timely and worth every sol. Initially, I was a little nervous traveling to South America, so I was especially happy about your friendly staff picking us up at the airport and transferring us to our hotels and accompanying us on some of our tours. Dave and I would like to specially thank Riva Bacquet and Karina Paola Moran Lucho for their diehard dedication to making our trip a complete success. Thank you.

- Terry F. & David D. (Battle Ground, WA)
Photographed at Machu Picchu

Machu Picchu was on my mental list for over 30 years but for various reasons and excuses I had put it off until this year. My first contact with you (Riva) convinced me that it had to be now. My initial plans were to go to Machu Picchu by train because, at age 78, I had some reservations about hiking the Inca Trail. At this stage, my two teenage grandsons (Kieran and Liam) and their father (Howard) expressed an interest in joining me on condition that we hike the trail. You assured me that the guides are well trained and I would be well looked after. I did find the hike difficult but the guides made sure that I made it safely albeit slowly. The food on the trail was unbelievably good and every evening we were served a three course dinner.

Apart from the Inca Trail we spent three days in Cusco and three days in Lima and the itinerary you planned made it possible for us to see many historically interesting places. All our hotels were very comfortable. And thank you, Riva, for meeting with us in Lima for coffee and your suggestions for shopping and eating places. We shopped well and ate well.

I have talked to many friends about your organisation and I am sure you will hear from some of them before long and don't be surprised to see me again in Peru. All very best wishes, 

- Sultan K. (Vancouver, Canada)
Photographed at Inca Trail

Riva: You and your whole team did a fantastic job assisting Megan and I complete one of the most memorable experiences of our lives. We can honestly say that this trip was planned perfectly and we wouldn't change a single thing. I recommend SA Expeditions to anyone who plans on visiting South America and wants a recommended first class company that will plan a trip of a lifetime.

Highlights of the trip were the private city tours, treks, and Machu Picchu tour; the organization of SA Luxury; and the hotel recommendations. The Aranwa and Inkaterra hotels were some of the best we have visited in our travels. We'll be definitely calling when we begin planning our Brazil trip.

- Christopher & Megan L. (McAllen, TX)
Photographed at Cuzco

From my perspective, my recent trip to Ecuador, Peru, and Columbia planned by Riva was a complicated trip to arrange. I communicated my expectations and a time frame for each event. With what appeared to be great ease, SA Expeditions filled it all in and made one of the best adventure trips I have experienced in the last 10 years. For that, I rate this trip on a 1-10 scale at 9.5; the only reason I did not give it a 10 is that I just don't give 10's.

All that I paid for (and then some) and all of my expectations were met and/or exceeded. All the guides were where they were supposed to be, met my every need and expectation, and were highly knowledgeable and motivated.

Perhaps, Galapagos and Machu Picchu excluded, the highlight of the trip was my two hour lunch and visit with you (Riva). This is about the best I can do to express my thanks to you and your company for a great trip and a great time. I hope to use SA Expeditions again sometime in the future.

With great appreciation and affection,

- James G. (Dallas, TX )
Photographed at Galapagos Islands

We had an amazing Amazon – Cusco – Machu Picchu – Lima tour with SA Expeditions. Riva Racquet was the most amazing tour operator; she did such a good job arranging all the details, and we had a wonderful time. If I visit South America again, I will definitely call Riva, and I'd like recommend her to anyone.

- Dana Z. (San Diego, CA)
Photographed at Machu Picchu

Riva: The whole trip was fantastic. The accommodations, food, guides, and representatives couldn't have been better. We were so impressed with the constant care and attention of all your staff, and we were always amazed at how smoothly all the timing and scheduling went. Everyone was always on time and prompt and so friendly!

As for highlights, it's difficult to say what I liked best. The Amazon trip was amazing and very educational as our guide Moises was so friendly and knowledgeable about the area. As for Machu Picchu, in spite us both feeling the effects of the high altitude, we were still able to climb Wayna Picchu and were so totally awestruck by the panorama at the top! Cusco was also very interesting to see and we thoroughly enjoyed our time with our guide Carlos on the city tour. He is very knowledgeable in the history of the area and the Inca civilization; we learned a lot from him. Getting to Lima after the Amazon and Cusco is a bit of a culture shock. It's a very busy happening place and we were like kids in a candy store wanting to see and do it all. In the end we ran out of time and had to go home.

All in all it was a great holiday for us mostly because of the how easy SA Expeditions made everything for us. I would not hesitate to recommend SA Expeditions to anyone. Thanks again for all your efforts on our behalf.

- Hilda and Holly W. (Alberta, Canada)
Photographed at Cuzco

I want to thank you for all your effort in making our trip a memorable one. We had a wonderful time. The hike was a bit grueling at times but we had a lot of laughs. Dealing with SA Expeditions was wonderful. Every detail was taken care of and everyone did their utmost to make our stay in Peru great. Thank you once again for helping us create such wonderful memories. 

- Sheryl (Oyster Bay Cove, NY)
Photographed at Inca Trail

Kristina and the entire team at SA Expeditions,

Our experience with your travel team was truly the best of best. Your company took care of our travel needs every step of the way, even went out of the way to check on us on a daily basis. From the moment we arrived and until we left, there was always someone to greet us and guide us. It was truly a once in a lifetime experience.

Having traveled to more than 110 countries, and used many travel groups in the past, I've experienced it all. Lost, missed, unorganized, cancelled, and up a river if you know what I mean. Your team of guides/drivers/greeters were constantly making sure we had the best travel experience during our vacation.

We enjoyed our carefully constructed itinerary, which included Lima, Cusco City, Salt Mines,Moray, Sacred Valley, and ultimately the experience at Machu Picchu. Most impressive were your selection of people, who were top of the class. I want to say a super thank you to three of them, including Enrique in Peru, Karina in Cusco, and Darwin at Machu Picchu. The accommodations in every city were fantastic, top-notch, and friendly.

As for the home office, Kristina and Nick, you are awesome. I bet we exchanged more than two dozen emails during the planning phase, and your knowledge of South America and in particular Peru was outstanding. I appreciated the hand-crafted itinerary built exclusively for our needs. I really appreciated the thoroughness of your entire operation during our travels: checking on us via email and phones at the appropriate times, and never once did I feel we weren't in the best travel hands of South America!

If you are reading this, I highly recommend SA Expeditions, they were simply unbelievable. It's rare to find such a great team of people anywhere in the world. 

- Kenton S. (Superior, CO)
Photographed at Machu Picchu

Riva, thank you so much for putting together a fantastic trip for me. Everyone associated with your organization was very friendly, helpful, and sincerely interested in seeing that I had a wonderful experience on my trip to South America. SA Expeditions offers exceptional value for the money. Keep up the good work and I look forward to my next travel adventure with you. 

- Bob W. (Raleigh, NC)
Photographed at Galapagos Islands

The best part of traveling with SA Expeditions was their organization of the entire itinerary. My friend and I did not have to worry about a thing. We had many options with regards to hotels and it's very convenient not to worry about reservations, train/plane/bus tickets, or entrance vouchers. SA Luxury took care of it all and had private transfers everywhere we went. We even got a chance to have lunch with Riva (our Destination Expert) who organized everything.

For me, the most impressive part of the trip was SA Luxury's hand-picked guides: there wasn't a single question that they couldn't answer! They were each very kind and knowledgeable. Our guide Carlos took us through the city of Ollantaytambo, which will make you forget what century you're in as you learn about the mountain spirit ‘Apu' and see the way the locals still live today. Our guide Darwin trekked us all around Machu Picchu, which is the most incredible place I have ever visited. He explained the timeline of the site and why it remains unfinished. We learned so much about the culture, geography, and history of the areas. My photo is me conversing with a little guy in Ollantaytambo; they're such "churros" (aka: cuties) when they speak Quechua! Thanks, Carlos!

Lima was an incredible city with tons of great food and Cusco is such a charming locale in which I wish I had more time to spend. I now have many friends in Peru and am excited to recommend SA Expeditions to anyone in the future!

- Kelly & Shelby (Dublin, OH)
Photographed at Sacred Valley

Our vacation was packed with amazing experiences including: enjoying ocean views in Miraflores; exploring the colonial city of Arequipa; experiencing the Colca Canyon; visiting Lake Titicaca via an unforgettable homestay with a family on the island of Amantani and enjoying the sun set across the lake; visiting the old city of Cuzco and the breathtaking Sacred Valley; and lastly of course the mysterious Machu Picchu and climbing to the top of Wayna Picchu. The climb is tiring but worth it, as no words can describe the sight we saw from the top of the rugged mountains at Machu Picchu. The whole journey was exciting beyond imagination, and we're looking forward to another trip to South America. Nothing I mentioned here would have been possible for us without SA Expeditions. Viva Riva!'

- Karen & Julio L. (New York City)
Photographed at Machu Picchu

Hey Riva, traveling with SA Expeditions was a well-organized yet flexible way to see Machu Picchu. It was really great to have a private guide. We could ask questions about the sites as well as the culture and people. Our guide Odon was very knowledgeable and all around great guy too! I have recommended SA Expeditions to everyone who has asked about our trip. 

- Corey (Miami, FL)
Photographed at Machu Picchu

After investigating several different tour companies, we came across SA Expeditions in a Google search. Digging into the details, we discovered that SA offered nicer hotel options and private tours (as opposed to sheep-herding group tours), for less money, than the others we were looking at.

Riva, our agent at SA, handled everything beautifully. Planning was a breeze, and she was very responsive to our questions. We told Riva that we had been looking into travel agencies that specialize in gay travel, having a slight concern about facing down those awkward hotel check-in moments when challenged about our request for a single bed. Riva completely understood our concern, and said she'd book us in "matrimonial" rooms. We didn't have a single problem, and hotel staff everywhere could not have been more welcoming. Riva even went to the trouble of e-mailing us a list of information on gay nightlife in Lima. (We didn't have time to do any of it, but we appreciated it!)

We were met at airports by friendly, knowledgeable people. Our guides were superb. We loved our hotels: Hacienda Concepcion in Puerto Maldonado, Casa Andina Private Collection in Cuzco, and especially the Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel in Aguas Calientes. We had only one slight disappointment, which Riva remedied immediately. When we checked in to our Lima hotel on our final night in Peru, Austin sent Riva an e-mail saying he didn't feel this particular hotel quite measured up. Within minutes, Riva was on the phone offering to move us to the nearby Radisson, which was very nice. She quickly came over, and helped us move. The whole process took less than 30 minutes.

We're both experienced travelers who have taken some pretty incredible vacations. This was one of our best. SA went out of their way to please, and it showed. We could not have been happier. We highly recommend SA Expeditions to anyone looking for excellence and top-notch service. 

- Brad C. & Austin A. (New York City)
Photographed at Machu Picchu

Dear Nick and SA Expeditions,
On behalf of the Bulgarian group, I would like to thank you for the wonderful organization of our trip to Ecuador and Peru. Everything was perfect; we enjoyed every moment of it and we would be happy to recommend your services to all adventurers who would like to see the amazing Galapagos, Quito, the beautiful Cusco, and the breathtaking Machu Picchu.Thank you for everything and we will be glad to use your services in future! 

- Svetla, Maria, and Nikolay (Bulgaria)
Photographed at Galapagos Islands

I couldn't have asked for more from the trip SA Expeditions set up for me. I sent an email with my background and what I was looking for and the next day I was sent a full response from a very friendly and helpful agent (Riva).

The Inca Trail was the highlight of my trip and the views and scenery were amazing, as was my friendly guide (Edwin). When I arrived in Cuzco I was met by friendly staff (Allison) and she was even kind enough to show me some local recommendations. The nightlife and restaurants in Cuzco were well worth the time, especially to get acclimated to the altitude before the hiking. I was also lucky enough to get a few days at the Posada Amazonas Lodge in the Amazon. The experience here was incredible and the staff were some of the most knowledgeable and friendly people I have ever met. My guide (Paula) was so passionate about her job and the environment; it was inspiring and really gave me a connection to more than just the beauty of the scenery around me.

Lastly, I had the last three days of my trip to enjoy the city life of Lima. The SA agent (Riva) met me as I checked into the hotel and personally showed me some amazing views and shared her insight into living in Peru and its culture. Connecting like that really made the trip all come together and culminated a start to finish amazing tour that I will not soon forget. I would definitely recommend SA Expeditions for anyone visiting Peru and am already planning my next trip back! 

- Matthew H. (Newport, RI)
Photographed at Lima

We thoroughly enjoyed ourselves in both Peru and the Galapagos Islands. Accommodations and arrangements were excellent. Guides were friendly, knowledgeable and flexible, which was very important considering that we had two young children with us. Riva and Allison kept in close touch with us before and during the trip to make sure that all was going well. Overall, a first class organization providing a once in a lifetime trip!

- Raj and Kavita S. (California)
Photographed at Machu Picchu

Dear Riva, Our Peruvian adventure was wonderful in every which way. Such a once in a lifetime trip! It is always a blessing to travel with one's spouse but to also add our youngest daughter to our travels was extra special. We loved all the history of Peru, the people, the landscape and the memories we have brought back with us. Thank you Riva, for helping us make this a dream vacation. 

- Janet and Bob S. (Chicago, IL)
Photographed at Machu Picchu

Riva, I wanted to thank you for your prompt and professional service in arranging our private tour to Peru. Once on the ground everything went like clockwork. Everyone was on time for pickups, transfers and tours. All the contacts were well versed in the next portion of itinerary. The SA Luxury tour guides were not only knowledgeable but were friendly and considerate. Our hotels were top notch and well located within walking distance of great dining and shopping. We have been on other private tours but this is the first time that a representative has meet us for dinner AFTER the trip to see if there was anything else we needed. Our next trip to South America will definitely be with SA Expeditions. 

- Rob H. (Ontario, Canada)
Photographed at Lake Titicaca

Nick developed the perfect itinerary for a week in Peru for our family. He assigned knowledgeable and helpful guides for us in Cusco and Machu Picchu. He ensured that all aspects of the trip were covered, including flight check in and assistance at the airport. This was one of our best family vacations yet and having Nick and his firm as our trip planner was part of the reason (along with the wonderful people in Peru and the awe-inspiring places). I would recommend that everyone do a sampler similar to what we did - Cusco, a short trek to Machu Picchu, a stay in Ollaytatambo, a visit to Inkaterra's rainforest reserve, and a day of sightseeing in Lima (with a visit to the fish market for ceviche and other fresh seafood treats). 

- Blake (Dallas, TX)
Photographed at Machu Picchu

Dear David, I have have been wanting to write you for over a week now to tell you what a FABULOUS trip we all had. It really was the trip of a lifetime. I wanted you to know that all your planning and expert guides were flawless. We felt taken care of every step of the way. The hotel and restaurant recommendations were great and the Peruvian guides you contract with are unbelievable. They are so knowledgeable but more importantly they were all so kind and personable. We immediately felt we had friends Peru. There is not much more to say other that I fell in love with Peru and I plan to return with my family one day so you will likely hear from me when the time comes to plan that trip. 

- Meghan Z. (Kinsella Birthday Expedition)
Photographed at Inca Trail

Peru was one of our favorite adventures of all time! The country that combines so much history, culture, unique geography and tasty food undoubtedly deserves a visit! This was also the first time I let somebody else plan my vacation, and it worked out beautifully. David was super thoughtful about our itinerary, about every hotel we stayed in and about all the activities planned for us. We visited a number of destinations, including Cusco, Machu Picchu, Lake Titicaca, Arequipa and Lima, and every one of them was unique and worthwhile. Thanks David for making it an awesome experience for the two of us!

- Alex and Ivane B. (San Francisco, CA)
Photographed at Machu Picchu

Our trip to Peru went very well and we appreciated the assistance that you gave us in making sure that everything went smoothly. One of the main reasons that we chose your company was that you were responsive, called us back on a weekend, and provided inside knowledge of the country and sights. All of our guides were great and the Inkaterra was one of the nicest hotels we have stayed anywhere in the world. We had a truly fabulous time, and will recommend you to anyone who wants to go to Peru! 

- Cheryl and Tim M. (Medford, MA)
Photographed at Machu Picchu

We booked our Salkantay trek trip about two weeks in advance. Despite the short notice, Nick and David were able arrange our itinerary without any issues; hotels, transportation, and guides were all taken care of.

Planning this trip would have been a staggering amount of logistical work, and its execution would most likely not have happened, had we not came across SA Expeditions. All we had to handle was the booking of our international flight and the packing of our provisions. Honestly, it was almost too easy.

From the heights of the Andes, to the edge of the jungles, and finally to the incredible ruins of Machu Picchu, the trip itself was amazing; one of those experiences that won't ever be forgotten. It's seldom one is afforded an experience anything like this. Thanks guys for helping to make this happen! 

- Brent D. and Jennifer H. (Washington, DC)
Photographed at Machu Picchu

When I decided to travel to South America, I spent hours online researching travel sites trying to find a travel package that met my needs - with no luck. I contacted SA Expeditions and talked with David about what I was looking for. He put together a custom package that met all my travel needs and best of all, within my budget. I had a wonderful, stress-free trip thanks for SA Expeditions and David Rottblatt! 

- Annette D. (Des Moines, IA)
Photographed at Galapagos Islands

This was our first trip to Latin America and we were accustomed to totally escorted tours and cruises. We consulted David at SA Expeditions when we could not find a tour company that could provide a trip to Machu Picchu and Galapagos in 10 days. David customized the itinerary for us - including a guided visit to Lima in between flights. The accommodations and guides were excellent - and the total of 9 flights went amazingly well without a hitch. We were never left at loose ends. The Galapagos Explorer II was very comfortable with great food and outstanding guides and staff; they did everything possible to make our trip memorable. We highly recommend David and SA Expeditions and will certainly call upon him again when we visit other parts of Latin America. 

- Judy & Victor M. (Forest Hills, NY)
Photographed at Galapagos Islands

David, I'm back in the states and find myself continually reflecting upon my month in South America. I had an exceptional adventure thanks to you & SA Expeditions! You created a diverse itinerary that captured a variety of activities, some of which I hadn't even considered, but all that proved to be memorable. You provided TOP NOTCH customer service and it didn't stop there.... The tours I went on were organized, on time and the guides were knowledgeable and trustworthy. The accommodations (hotels & hostals alike) far exceeded my expectations, and the restaurants that you recommended were fantastic!

My most memorable travel adventure was during a homestay on the island of Amantani in Lake Titicaca. After touring the Uros islands, and then having lunch with our families on the island of Amantani, we were able to connect with the community. We played volleyball and soccer with the youth of the island and then spent time in the Community Center with the school aged kids. I connected with Jose, a 5 year old. He and I sat next to each other and I helped him with his Spanish. Spanish was a second language for both of us, so we got along great and his smile just melted my heart. When I got up to leave for our next activity, Jose wrapped his arms around me in a big embrace.

I won't hesitate to recommend SA Expeditions to my friends and family. You and your staff are professional, personable and knowledgeable advocates for travelers. You love what you do and that shines through in your customer service, attention to detail, patience, planning and reliability. Thank you for creating and contributing so much to my South American expedition! 

- Rachel G. (Portland, OR)
Photographed at Inca Trail

David, Our trip to South America was great! We had such a blast. Patagonia was definitely a highlight! Thank you for helping us fit that portion into our trip. I can't say we were completely prepared for the wacky weather that is Patagonia, but we made it out alive, healthy and still smiling! We never would of thought it was possible to cover so much ground and still have enough energy to enjoy the journey. Thank you for your willingness to listen and to help create an experience that was right for us. Also, we can't tell you how reassuring it was to know that you were aware and watching our movement and even going as far as to calling a few hostels to make sure we checked in. Your thoughtfulness was noticed and appreciated from day one.

- Kendra O. ( Bristol, CT) & Kathryn Thomas (Albuquerque, NM)
Photographed at Patagonia

Dave, Just wanted to say thanks for an excellent Peru adventure! We all had a total blast and I have definitely been recommending SA Expeditions to all my friends back here in Houston. The guides Miguel and Odón were great – very knowledgeable and very friendly! They even got up with us at 3am to make it to Wayna Picchu and were instrumental in us being the first at the gate (knowing where to go once at Machu Picchu is way more important than being the first on the bus!). Also, good choice on the hotels; particularly liked the high ceilinged suites in the Andenes al Cielo!

- James M. (Houston, TX)
Photographed at Sacred Valley

We don't have enough words to thank you for your assistance on planing this wonderful trip to Cuzco/Aguas Calientes/Machu Picchu in 6 days!! The Picoaga hotel in Cuzco was beautiful with its inside court and colonial architecture. Thanks for upgrading our room at this hotel, it was extra special for our Anniversary celebration. The view of the city from the breakfast area was enjoyable each morning. The Mapi Hotel in Aguas Calientes was lovely too. Both hotels were centralized, had internet access (to keep in touch with family), and all staff were courteous and helpful in everyway. The tour guide (Augusto) and driver (Fernando) were great and accomodating. Augusto was very knowledgeable about the history of all the places visited. The weather was perfect, the flights on time and smooth and we didn't get sick by the altitude. Loved the train ride. What views and at the same time entertaining! Dave, my husband and I, are still amazed how this trip was planned in 6 days, resulting in so much enjoyment and great memories on our 29th anniversary celebration. The trip could not been a reality without your help, expertise, and connections in such a short time. We are still impressed from your calls at the beginning and end of the tour. We have traveled on other tours and that personal touch had been missing. We will always be grateful.

- Jose & Clary G. (Colombus, OH)
Photographed at Machu Picchu

Dave, thanks for an amazing trip! Despite the short number of days we stayed in Peru, I felt like you packed an amazing amount of activities and highlights into our schedule that made the trip so worth it!! Everything was seamlessly organized, loved our tour guides and the pace was perfect. Thanks for accommodating all of our demanding requests and making this trip unforgettable

- Arum K. (Harvard Business School, Boston, MA
Photographed at Machu Picchu

SA Expeditions completely exceeded my expectations! As a backpacker who has traveled through 5 continents and worked with many travel agencies, I can honestly say that I've never experienced more customization, thoughtfulness and care from a travel agency. David, the owner of SA Expeditions, went above and beyond to ensure my friend and I were having a great trip. From the hotel picks to the restaurant choices and unique tour suggestions, I could not be happier with choosing SA Expeditions and would recommend this company to anyone. David, thank you for organizing such a wonderful itinerary for us, we loved it!

- Lauren B. (Ft. Lauderdale, FL)
Photographed at Lake Titicaca

SA Expeditions did not miss a beat! As Mother/Daughter traveling together, we had unique planning needs. We had limited vacation time, a list of "must do" experiences and a desire for a trip that balanced adventure with manageable activities for both ages. David and his team were able to assemble the perfect trip that met all of our needs and allowed us to travel in comfort. I highly recommend SA Expeditions to any traveler looking for a personally tailored experience with every detail managed seamlessly. Bravo, David. And thank you!

- Molly & Joyce S. (Los Angeles, CA)
Photographed at Lake Titicaca

This is my first trip to S. America. Being a non-spanish speaker, I was worried about navigating the continent. SA Expeditions made my trip very enjoyable and hassle-free. I was greeted by English-speaking personnel door-to-door, and all the guides are very knowledgeable and friendly. I also appreciate the local cultural exposure; from nice boutique hotel accommodation in convenient location to delicious restaurant recommendations. It is a truly delightful experience, and I highly recommend SA Expeditions and Dave to my friends.

- Justin W. (Hong Kong)
Photographed at Lake Titicaca

David, we just returned from our 10 days in Peru, and I can't say enough about how attentive and helpful you were both in helping us plan our trip and in getting my husband's lost suitcase to us. In addition to your impressive resourcefulness with this travel problem, your knowledge about Peru and advising about where to go, how much time to spend in each location, what restaurants to try, etc. was excellent. The guides were great sources of information, showed up on time and were very pleasant. The hotels and B&B you arranged were all as described. All in all, I would highly recommend SA Expeditions.

- Martha & Morris S. (Philadelphia, PA)
Photographed at Machu Picchu

David, the personal attention we received from you and your team both before and during our trip was extremely helpful. Travelling in South America by yourself can be challenging, especially when things go wrong, so it was nice to have someone looking out for us. As far as trip highlights, experiencing Cuzco and Machu Picchu with a private guide was great. Our guide in Cuzco even offered to have his sister cook up some cuy so we could try the authentic Peruvian dish.

- Megan Smith, Former Editor for Let's Go Guidebooks
Photographed at Lima, Peru

As someone who has traveled the world and reviewed tour operators for every imaginable budget, I can say that SA Expeditions combines a sense of adventure with an understanding of creature comforts. From Machu Picchu to the northern beaches to the wilds of the jungle, they cover all of Peru and they do it in style. I was very lucky to have met David and the team at SA Expeditions during a month-long odyssey in Peru and I just hope I get the chance to travel with them again soon.

- Megan Smith, Former Editor for Let's Go Guidebooks
Photographed at Machu Picchu