Active Adventures Reviews 603

Back in February of 2018 i signed my family up with Active Adventures to do a hiking trip in Peru. I was a bit hesitant: I had never used Active Adventures…they had good online reviews, but who really knows until you have worked with them directly, right? Also, I have 2 boys, 12 and 14…and my wife and I are both reasonably fit but the hiking was going to take us above 15,000 feet…and the highest my family had ever climbed at was about 10,000. So that made me lose some sleep. Finally, I was just concerned about the logistics of such an enormous undertaking…would Active really handle the details well enough to make this trip worth the cost?
We now have returned to the US, and I can emphatically state that Active Adventures crushed it. There were a lot of reasons why this trip was a success…here are the top ones:
1. Wilson, our guide, was attentive to our special needs, willing to accommodate unusual requests, patient with some whining, able to balance diverse group abilities seamlessly, accommodating, funny, hugely knowledgeable, educational and was easily the main reason for the success. Here are some of the things he did to make the trip special:
a. He arranged for us to see a local soccer game, since our oldest son plays competitive soccer, we thought it would be cool to try to catch a local game. We saw a local Cusco based team (Ciencano) in a super fun environment…that was really different and special. Wilson arranged for the tickets and went with us…it was really memorable.
b. Wilson also arranged for a local doctor to visit us IN OUR HOTEL LOBBY…on 2 HOURS NOTICE…on a SATURDAY MORNING. Our son had an ear infection which we were concerned about…and Wilson and the Active Adventure team doctor were incredibly helpful. Problems were solved in a few hours with local pharmacies and scripts. He also gave us sound advice on whether to take Diamox (which we did on his advice, and which turned out to be great advice).
c. Wilson introduced us not just to the Incan relics and ruins and history, but also introduced us to local people along the way…including others on the Active team, but also many of the local residents that we met on our hike in the mountains. He taught us about their livelihood and challenges and customs, which made the trip very unique from anything I had ever experienced before. I will not soon forget the 4-year-old girl sheepherder working at 15000 feet, overseeing the family herd (and I will also not let my kids forget that!)
d. He was energetic and fun and accommodating in every way, every day.
e. He was incredibly knowledgeable himself about the history of the Incas, the local cultures, and the interactions between the local Peruvian people and the Spanish influences (good and bad). He was passionate about these topics, which made it meaningful.
f. Wilson was (and is) an incredible advocate for the Peruvian people and culture, and specifically for the indigenous people of the Cusco region. In the end of I thought of Wilson as the “Mayor of Lares” (the hiking destination we took). I think that label fits perfectly.
2. The Active team did a great job of dealing with some tricky flight rescheduling, caused by the local airlines changing their flight plans. We ended up reworking the agenda…but the Active team made this happen without having to change our original flights, which would have incurred thousands in change fees.
3. The accommodations were fantastic…hotels were clean, comfortable, centrally located, and had great staffs and good buffest style breakfasts, with enough options for some picky eaters.
4. The arranged tours went off without a hitch, and were staffed by friendly, knowledgeable and helpful assistants…all whom Wilson treated like family. These tours were unique (sightseeing, with lunch at a locally renowned restaurant…biking along the sacred valley, and with stops at local churches and shops to meet and learn about the local history.
5. The hiking was phenomenally well organized and more like “glamping”. We got hot lunches, hot water bottles for our sleeping bags when it was cold, our tents were always up and ready when we hit camp for the night, the food was just outstanding, even in camp. And in the end, the pace of the hiking and advice we got for altitude and acclimatizing from the Active team helped us hit the ultimate goal of hiking the entire Lares trail and “summitting” at 15,500 feet with relative ease….even my 12 year old crushed it.
6. Finally, our trip to the Amazon was amazing and easily the favorite destination for our kids. We all loved the individual cabins in the rain forest setting, the wildlife walks, the treetop canopy walk, the night time tarantula hunt, and the great buffest lunches and breakfasts at the main lodge. Oh and also, in addition to Wilson, we had the best Rainforest guide in a fellow named Pedro, from InkaTerra. Pedro was his own fountain of information and knowledge, and made the last part of the trip hugely enjoyable!!

I cannot say enough about this team that Active has assembled…from the pre-sales team, to the post sales accommodation team in New Zealand, to the local team that was assembled in Peru, Cusco and the Amazon…everyone was super professional, knowledgeable and accommodating. So was it all worth it? Absolutely…I would recommend this team to anyone!! (and I already have)

Fantastic trip to PERU with our boys, ages 14 & 12. We took the Lares Trek, ending with a trip to the rain forest. Our guides, Wilson & Salvadore, awesome crew of chefs, porters and Amazon guide Pedro, exceeded our expectations throughout our trip. Everyone exuded passion, fun and excitement about Peru; their love of culture and community shined through at every moment. Wilson shared his love for the back-country community, giving us insight into the lives, work, and traditions of the Peruvian people. He is very knowledgeable about the history and makes it interesting, calling attention to unique facts and fun aspects like the rock slide. He also delighted us with his amazing selection of restaurants, always attentive to our tastes while exposing us to authentic meals - the cuisine was fantastic! Also, hats off to the Chefs on our trek who prepared gourmet meals that i'm still raving about. Truly a wonderful and unique experience.

Excellent holiday in the Dolomites. Guides, accommodation, trip experience all great

It was a well organised tour with very competent guides.

Very helpful, knowledgeable, and responsive to our questions in planning our trips. The guides both from Active Adventures and local guides are professional, excellent, knowledgable, and supportive. We highly recommend them and are looking forward to our next trip to theNorth and South islands of New Zealand. The Tour Mont Blanc experience this summer helped us make the decision to go to New Zealand in 2020.

Another awesome experience with Active. Always plenty of options ensuring everyone gets the ultimate adventure regardless of ability. The combination of Kiwi and local guides certainly makes for a fun cultural experience, never a dull moment. Thanks for giving us the opportunity to fully experience this dramatic part of the world....

We have traveled on five Active Adventures tours. We have traveled New Zealand, Peru, Patagonia, Galapagos and now Europe. We have had wonderful experiences each time.

Excellent company.Top class service and customer care.Will travel with them again and again.

This was the best, life changing hiking adventure we have ever taken. Our guides Kim and Gokal were just amazing people that cared for us and showed so much love and respect for Nepal and the Mountain. We would highly recommend the EBC trip with Active Adventures.

Second trip with Active Adventures and we are planning more! Perfect amount of activity, cultural experiences and accommodations. We really feel like we were immersed in the region and learned something new about the world and ourselves. The guides have been knowledgeable and interesting and very interested in sharing their countries with us. Can’t wait until our next trip.

Guides were patient and kept us away from crowds. They allowed me to start early after lunch once I explained I couldn't handle a big meal and at 81 was a little slower than the 3 women marathoners on the trip.

Great travel company! Very organized and friendly! Would recommend them to any one.

From start to finish, the Active crew does an excellent job. Our guides, MJ and James were well trained and enjoyable to be around. I enjoy being challenged and appreciate companies who are willing to create trips with a fair amount of fitness and endurance required. Thank you for showing me how beauty of New Zealand's South Island. I hope to be back one day.

The Annapurna Sanctuary Trek was absolutely beautiful. The Himalayan landscape and the breathtaking views convinced me that this was the trip I needed. In a place where you must forgo some of the modern luxuries we are used to (wi-fi, hot water, electricity from time to time), Active Adventures makes the adjustment seamless and stress-free. The guides were prepared for all of the above and in turn, had great tips and advice for all of us along the way. The people of Nepal were so warm and welcoming, and although some of the hiking days were challenging, I wouldn't change a thing. I made friends along the way and will never forget this adventure!

Great company to travel Peru and the Galapagos with. They are well organized paying attention to detail, returning our calls and emails with question quickly. During our trip, our trip leaders and local guides were exceptional! We had a trip of a life time experience.

Highly recommend Active Adventures. I’ve done two back to back trips with them for a total of 4 trips. If you are interested in seamless transitions from biking to kayaking to hiking with equipment ready for you, outstanding guides and excellent healthy food and interesting lodging, you will not be disappointed. On the New Zealand trip 14 of us travelled together from Portland and everyone says it’s the best trip or among the top two trips yhey’ve Taken. On the Peru/Bolivia trips we are sure we had unique experiences!

The Jaguar trip consisting of Machu Picchu and the Amazon was indescribable. If you're contemplating about going - DO IT!!!! I opted to hike the Classic Inca trail. Although it was quite challenging, (4-day trek)you were rewarded with spectacular views of the mountains while walking through subtropical jungles. Alpacas so close to the trail, you could have reached out to touch them. You will come across ancient ruins during the trek too. The Incas had great respect for these mountains that they held sacred and you'll know why when you go.What a privilege. Our tour guide on the trail was Puma. He was energetic, optimistic and full of knowledge about the trail, the Incas and the history of Machu Picchu. It was evident that he held these mountains with great respect also. At base camp, we'd spend the evenings listening to Puma's stories over a cup of hot tea. One night, he was telling us ghost stories about the trail. That was awesome because I love ghost stories.Our accompanying porters were so hard working too, our meals and tents were ready before we arrived at base camp to include our portable toilets. Lol. Meals were great!! Company was great. Experience is unforgettable. I felt so honored to walk the trail that the ancient Incas used for their pilgrimage to Machu Picchu. I felt a little sad at the end of the trek, it felt like leaving family.
Now, the Amazon was another mind blowing experience, we'd do day and night tours led by a very informative guide who stays on premise. Wait till you climb the treehouse. Of course, we had our trusty, funny Active tour guide, Gustavo, accompanying us always making sure we were doing OK. At the end of the day, I'd rest at my bungalow on the porch hammock listening to the sounds of the jungle while enjoying a cold bottle of Inca Gold. There is also a pool (with a bar) a few feet away. I could get used to this.
Anyway, this was my 2nd trip with Active Adventures as a solo traveller. I'm female and I felt quite safe touring with Active.
Good attention to detail from the booking personnel et al. At this point, I don't feel the need to go with any other tour company. Why ruin a good thing?

I recently travelled for my second time with Active Adventures to partake in the Jaguar trip to Machu Picchu & the Amazon. The trip was a dream come true. Due to some very fortunate circumstances, I got to enjoy an intimate journey along the Lares Trail through the Sacred Valley of the Incas for 3 glorious days before reaching Machu Picchu on the 4th day and joining back up with my group. The Lares Trek was rugged with varied terrain and breathtaking views for as far as the eye could see. I saw llamas, alpacas, birds, villagers, children, glaciers, waterfalls, lakes, streams, gorgeous eucalyptus woods, quinoa fields, old farm houses from the Inca period, and so much more. Every step led to a new discovery of the old world, and my brilliant guide Erick was always ready with his narration of the history of the land and people. The food and camping was also very good, and my hosts were gracious and efficient, including the 5 mules who never complained once. :) We even made a stop to Aguascalientes (hot spring), where I got to enjoy a very relaxing soak.

The Amazon adventure for 2 days was also very exciting. I personally loved the thick, exotic heat of the days and warm-cool nights. (a swimming pool and memory foam bed made for a magnificent sleep). Tarantulas, capybaras, sloths, owls and green orange trees were firsts for me, and the relaxing pace of the Amazon made for a perfect wind down to the Jaguar adventure.

If you are willing to forgo some comforts of home for an outdoor experience in the great wild, this trip is a MUST DO.

Active Adventures is a top notch, professional group - I just finished my third trip with them and highly recommend them. The Tortuga trip to the Galapagos was incredible, full of wonderful activities in an extraordinary place! Our guide Pepo was amazing, had an encyclopedic knowledge about everything Galapagos, had us laughing and learning the whole trip! The food and accommodations were great as well. I highly recommend AA!