Dear Amazon Trails,

we had the most wonderful and memorable trip with your team. Everything was so well organised and the commitment and care by your staff was outstanding. We would appreciate you passing on our very special thanks to these people who were such a happy and friendly team. Daniel – Bus driver. Daniel got us into and out of the Park with very careful and safe driving. Some of the roads and weather conditions were extremely difficult but we always felt very confident in his driving ability. Alberto – We were certainly not expecting the quality and quantity of food that Alberto prepared! His meals were exceptional and a highlight of our trip. He catered beautifully to our vegetarian requirements and included many local dishes. Everything was freshly made and often served in difficult circumstances, i e: on a boat or riverbank. Daniel – Boat Captain. Some extraordinary navigation even in rain, dense fog and darkness. Also an excellent wildlife spotter! Carlos – Always friendly and cheerful and concerned with our safety getting on and off our boat. Javier – We spent many hours on walks with Javier and found him to be extremely knowledgeable about the wildlife. He identified our particular interests early and tailored the experiences for us. For the whole week he was particularly focussed upon our safety and our well being. He also was very kind in sharing a lot of his cultural knowledge of the Andean people. This was the adventure of a lifetime for us and your team went far beyond our expectations. Finally, thank you to Soledad and Ulla who were always very prompt and efficient with dealing with our email enquiries. We highly recommend your travel agency for its outstanding service and dedication.

Thank you all so much!!

Paul and Lynda Williams

This trip exceeded our expectations. Its always a lottery booking via the internet with so many similar trips to choose from, but it couldnt have been better. Carlos was an excellent guide but the whole team contributed keeping their eyes out for wildlife. The days started early but there was always time to watch the wildlife when we came across it. With special attention to the things we wanted to see. Louise, the cook was brilliant as were the two who guided the boat. We had a number of questions before hand and emails were answered swiftly and clearly. We met a few other parties on route and you could see a difference in how importantly they took our safety. One highlight memory has to be seeing a sloth in the toilet and having great views as it moved away but this is just one from a week packed with special memories. Brilliant trip and book it with confidence.

Nous avions réservé un tour de 4 jours. Nous avions eu la chance d’être les deux seuls participants. L’équipe est accueillante, chaleureuse et compétente. Super séjour avec notre guide Nicolas Quinte. Nous avons appris beaucoup de choses avec lui. Nous avons été impressionnés par sa connaissance de la flore et de la faune. Il arrive à repérer des animaux juste à leur son. Grâce à lui nous avons pu voir des animaux que nous n’aurions pas trouvé seuls. C’est certain nous reviendrons mais avec un tour plus long afin de pouvoir accéder à la réserve de Manu et nous choisirons de le faire avec Nicolas. Nous recommandons Amazon Trails Peru à 100 %.

Wir haben den viertägigen Lares Trek im Juni im Voraus gebucht, nachdem wir von der deutschen Inhaberin der Agentur, Ulla, sehr gut beraten worden sind.

Nach zwei Tagen notwendiger Höhengewöhnung in Cusco, wurde am Abend vor der Tour mit unserem zuständigen Guide, Javier, ein Briefing durchgeführt, sodass wir in die nächsten vier Tage entsprechend eingewiesen wurden.

Pickup war am ersten Tag morgens um 4 Uhr an unserem Hotel durch Javier und unseren Koch Benicio. Von dort ging es mit dem Minivan Richtung Lares-Tal. Auf der Fahrt wurde an einem einheimischen Markt angehalten, wo wir die Möglichkeit zum Frühstücken hatten und Benicio noch einige Lebensmittel für die nächsten Tage kaufte. Die Wanderung begann dann an den Heißen Quellen von Lares, wo wir noch die Möglichkeit zum Baden hatten. (Normalerweise endet die Tour dort, nur sind wir die Tour in umgekehrte Richtung gegangen.)

Zusammen mit zwei einheimischen Horsemen und deren 6 Pferden, Javier und Benicio begann die Wanderung. Die Pferde trugen alle notwendigen Gegenstände wie Schlaf-, Koch-, Essenszelte, Kochmaterial sowie ein großes Duffelbag unserer persönlichen Utensilien. Javier erzählte uns von Beginn an mit gutem English viel über die einheimisch Fauna und Flora, Kultur, Menschen und Landschaft. Er glänzte mit enormen, interessantem Fachwissen und war auch auf persönlicher Ebene immer sehr offen und interessiert. Es herrscht stets eine lockere Atmosphäre.

Der erste Tag verlief 4-5 Stunden durch interessante Landschaft an Bergflüssen, Alpakaherden und einheimischen Mini-Ortschaften vorbei. Mittag,- und Abendessen durch Benicio war sehr abwechslungsreich, lecker und reichhaltig. Die Horsemen bereiteten stets warmes Sauberes Wasser zum Waschen vor. Und auch frisches Trinkwasser für den nächsten Tag wurde von ihnen immer genügend abgekocht und desinfiziert. Geschlafen wurde in der ersten Nacht in einem extra für uns hergerichtetem Zelt unweit einer kleinen indigenen Gemeinde.

Am nächsten Morgen standen früh um 5 Uhr auf und nach sehr gutem Frühstück begann der längste Wandertag. Zum Sonnenaufgang ging es an einigen Bergseen, Alpakaherden und einem Wasserfall zum ersten Andenpass auf 4500 Meter. Dieser wurde überquert, sodass dann durçh ein weiteres Tal vorbei an weiteren wunderschönen Seen und Wasserfällen zum Mittagessen eingetroffen wurde. Da meine Frau Probleme mit der Höhe bekommen hat , hat Javier sinnvollerweise sie den zweiten Andenpass über 4700 nach dem Mittagessen mit der Pferd überqueren lassen. Während der zweiten Passüberquerung kamen wir an riesigen Gletschern vorbei und durchschritten teils Schneefelder, die aber stets sicher mithilfe Guide und Horse bewerkstelligt wurden. Abends nach langer Wanderung wurden wir wieder hervorragend verköstigt.

Am nächsten Morgen ging es das Tal weiter runter vorbei an wiederum „neuer“ interessanter Vegetation. Endpunkt war das heilige Tal am dritten Tag, wo wir nach dem Mittagessen nach Ollantaytambo gefahren wurden, um den Zug nach Machu Picchu zu nehmen. Durch unseren Guide Javier wurden wir für die weitere Vorgehensweise eingewiesen. Wir hatten noch Zeit uns in Ollantaytambo umzuschauen, bis wir den Zug nach Aguas Caliente nahmen.

Dort wurden wir von einem weiteren Guide Jaime in Empfang genommen, der uns am nächsten Tag am Machu Picchu herum führte und viele dienliche Infos ab. Zu Machu Picchu brauch ich nicht viel zu sagen; die Inka ruine ist ein absolutes Muss und es ist unglaublich interessant mit einem Guide bei Sonnenaufgang dieses Spektakel zu erleben. Nachmittags wurden wir nach Zugfahrt nach Ollantaytambo wieder nach Cusco gefahren.

Die Tour war perfekt organisiert und man hat die Möglichkeit durch sehr gute Englisch sprechende Führer die Kultur und Geschichte Perus kennen zu lernen. Landschaftlich ist der LaresTrek sowie Machu Picchu absolut sehenswert und höchst abwechslungsreich. Weiter fanden wir es sehr reizvoll uns sehr nahe an der indigenen Bevölkerung fernab von Tourismusströmen aufzuhalten. Großen Dank geht damit nochmal an die Organisation um Ulla Maenings Amazon Trails, unseren Guide Javier sowie dem Koch Benicio und den zwei Horsemen. Gerne wieder!!!

Liebe Grüße Katrin und René

I ‘ll write a comment about our Manu experience, as I know it is quite an expensive trip and people like recommendations from recent customers. My husband and I hummed and hawwed because the trip was quite expensive, regardless of which company you go with. After comparing different companies offices and reading customers reviews we decided to go with ATP because the guides received EXCELLENT ratings time and time again. They also were the only company to supply a telescope for viewing the wildlife as well as rubber boots (absolutely essential for when we went). They run different itineraries that also offer a tapir lick for nocturnal viewing, something no other company offered. Our guide was fantastic, I dont really know how he spotted the wildlife he did. For example, one other group was with us at the Macaw lick and they were only looking at macaws. Our guide found 2 toucans, a monkey, a squirrel and a woodpecker in that time, absolutely unreal! And he knows all the names of EVERYTHING, latin names, biological genus, species, family….quite amazing really. They really work hard the whole trip to give you the best experience. They also rent out SPECTACULAR binoculars, not the crap ones other companies try to rent out.
Cynthia

My travel companion and I had a wonderful time in Manu with Amazon Trails Peru. They were very patient and arranged a custom trip for us to suit our photographic needs. ATP allowed us to have a flexible itinerary. After spending time at Macaw Clay Lick, I wanted to spend another day there which they arranged. Our guide was an incredible naturalist who could hear and identify bird and monkey calls a long distance away. He went to great trouble to help me get great photos which can be seen at www.wanderlustimages.com Everyone connected with ATP including boatman, cook, driver, and office personnel were helpful, professional and provided great service. I look forward to our next trip.

….Howie Garber, Amy Oxman

In July/August 2017 we did the 8-day Manu trip and absolutely recommend it. Everything was perfectly organized and went very smoothly, both the communication with Amazont Trails before the tour and especially the tour itself. Our tireless and enthusiastic guide Carlos did a great job in bringing across his profound knowledge about Manu’s flora and fauna, and all that in excellent English. We feel that we have seen and learned a lot during this trip. Our personal favourites probably were the cloud forest, the giant otters and the macaw lick. It also was a phantastic experience to see the jungle come to life every dfay in the early hours of the morning. Alberto, our cook, was capable of coming up with yet another tasty meal every evening. Once he even prepared a birthday cake (baked in a pot) for one of the 4 participants! Our indefatigable driver Daniel (who also was part of the team in our second tour with Amazon Trails, the Lares trek) was incredibly reliable and helpful, just as the rest of the team.

The Manu Biosphere Reserve Adventure was fantastic. We had the pleasure of spending 8 days in Manu with Amazon Trails Peru. Our trip to Manu was absolutely perfect!! Our guide, Carlos was phenomenal! Carlos. Among other things, he sighted two very camouflaged jaguars – we watched them for almost an hour .we are seasoned travelers, having been to rainforests in Central America, Brazil, Australia and Mexico so we were hoping to learn more in-depth information about rainforest ecology than one might get on a first trip and the guide came though magnificently. Carlos’s commitment to both the environment and to the local indigenous groups closely parallels our own. We were excited to spend time with the Diamante and Matsiguenka people. Our stay at Casa Matsiguenka and maquisapayoc lodge was a real highlight of the trip for us. Visiting the boat „factory“ in Boca Manu and watching the people use driftwood to create a viable; environmentally-friendly industry was fascinating.

6-day trip to Manu with Amazon Trails Peru was one of the most fantastic experiences in my life. I am truly grateful to Saturnino, our guide, who never stopped showing us birds and animals in every single minute. Moreover, his short explanation of each plant, insect or animal we saw somehow made us understand the dynamics and wonder of rainforest ecosystem. I was just amazed that he knows every thing about the forest world! I enjoyed so much being a part of the wonderful nature. I cannot miss to mention about Ciro, the cook, who entertained us with such a tasty dish at every meal, regardless of at the lodge, on the boat, or in a remote hut.

Thanks for giving me such an enjoyable time!

This trip has definitely been the highlight of our travels in Peru and we would highly recommend it. Our guide Javier and his team have made our time in the jungle unforgettable. Javier is a great guide with a lot of knowledge about the forest and the animals and if there is an animal you can trust he and his team will spot it. A combination of great accommodation, great food, great people and (last but not least;)) the beautiful nature make this trip amazing! Thanks guys!!!

Wir haben Ende Juni als Familie eine 3 woechige Perureise samt Manutour mit ATP gemacht. Sehr gute Vorbereitung. Alles griff super ineinander. Sehr kompetente Reiseleiter. Keine Wartezeiten. Deutsche Pünktlichkeit.

Ich und mein Freund Hans Mittendorf waren vom 4.9. – 1.10.2006 mit Amazonastrails Peru auf naturkundlicher Individualreise in Peru. Unsere Reiseziele waren u.a. die Küste auf der Paracas-Halbinsel (viele Chile-Pelikane, Graumöwen und Schwarzschwanz-Möwen) mit Bootstour zu den Ballestas Inseln (Guano-Inseln mit Millionen von Seevögeln, vor allem Guano-Tölpel, Guano-Kormoran, Inkaseeschwalbe, Humboldt-Pinguin und Südamerikanischer Seelöwe), über die Anden nach Cusco (mit Besichtigung der alten InkastättenMachu Picchu, Pisac und Ollantaytambo), Randbereiche des Manu-Nationalpark im Amazonasgebiet entlang des Rio Alto Madre de Dios und Rio Madre de Dios (Bootstour mit Übernachtungen in teilweise einfacheren Unterkünften, teilweise auch auf Beobachtungsplattformen für die Tapirbeobachtung; Beobachtungen u.a. an Altarmen und an einer großen Papageinenlecke) und der Colca-Canyon südlich von Arequipa (mit geländegängigem Mietwagen).Als äußerst fachkundigen und ornithologisch und naturkundlich versierten Guide hatten wir während der ersten 3 Wochen Abraham Huaman Leon, der gleichzeitig unser Dolmetscher war. Die gesamte Reise war hervorragend organisiert (Verpflegung, Unterkünfte, Transfers mit Kleinbus bzw. Boot, Inlandflüge, deutschsprachiger Guide für den Ausflug ins Heilige Tal der Inka, einheimischer Guide in Machu Picchu). Zeitweise wurden wir von einem Koch begleitet, der schmackhafte Speisen zubereitete.

Hauptschwerpunkt unserer Reise waren die Säugetiere und Vögel des Amazonasgebiets und der Anden. Unser Guide Abraham hatte hervorragende zoologische Kenntnisse im Felde, sowohl akustisch als auch visuell, und konnte uns viele seltene Tierarten wie z.B. Riesenotter, Flußotter, Capybaras, Flachlandtapire, 10 Affenarten (von 13 im Gebiet vorkommenden), Vicunas, Guanakos, Mohrenkaiman, Anden-Felsenhahn, Anden-Kondor, 6 Araarten und viele kleinere Papageien und viele Kolibriarten zeigen. Insgesamt sahen oder hörten wir durch Abrahams Hilfe während der Reise etwa 560 Vogelarten, darunter viele endemische Arten.
Auch die anschließende Tour von Arequipa aus in den Colca-Canyon und nach Lagunas Salinas, die wir ohne Guide unternahmen, war sehr gut organisiert (geländegängiger Mietwagen, Hotel in Arequipa).

Wir denken gerne an diese schöne Reise zurück und können sie allen Naturfreunden, die den mittleren und südlichen Teil Perus kennenlernen wollen, sehr empfehlen.

Gudrun Bardowicks/ Lüneburg und Hans Mittendorf/Springe

We – me and my friend – have turned a week ago from a birding tour to Peru organized by ATP (and personally Ulrike Maennig). We were driving a rented 4WD car (rented not at ATP; if somebody is interested – budget.com) by all the southern part of Peru during 30 days. The route – we had chosen it in consultation with ATP. One of three ATP birding guides – Edgardo, Abraham, Saturnino – kept our company during each of 30 days.

All the guides have shown a perfect knowledge of birds, mammals, plants, and also helped us few times at unforeseen consequence – for example, when I didn’t see a signal of traffic-controller in Puno city, or when, two times deep in wild mountains, we couldn ‚t find anyone speaking Spanish or English (but Quechua only). Our guides understood and spoke Quechua. Abraham and Saturnino were showing us birds in a telescope (which – a backbreaking work – they were carrying with tripod), Edgardo – in a good binocular. Edgardo helped us much filming on our video camera; Saturnino teached us the digiscoping – a way to make photos of birds on a digital camera through a telescope). And Abraham – I named him Eagle Eye = Ojo de Aguila because he found birds always and everywhere, even where we both – not beginners at birds – just looked ))

Got to Atalaya, we left there our car (ATP arranged that somebody of the local people was always keeping an eye on it) and put out for 7 days to Alta-Madre-de-Dios, then Madre-de-Dios on a personal boat – for us two only – rented at ATP. During this week we stayed in Blanquillo, Manu Wildlife Center, Maquisapayoj (all lodging reserved also by ATP).

In Blanquillo we saw the Macaw Lick – an amazing place where lots and lots of macaws and parakeets are gathering every morning. Two times we visited the Cocha Comungo lake (lots of birds) and the Cocha Blanco lake (lots of birds, many of them – different species from ones on Comungo). Also we visited a 42-meter viewing tower constructed near Cocha Comungo for viewing selva overstory.

In Manu Wildlife Center we walked to the Tapir Lick, where tapirs come every night and where people hold a light for them with a searchlight operated from the battery. Also we visited a 40-meter viewing tower. There are two viewing towers in the area, and we visited both.

In Maquisapayoj we had not enough time to see all objects offered in this reserve. But then we found there a colibri nest just close to our bungalow. The birdie was entering the nest and sitting on the eggs in our presence. Apropos, we found an entry in russian in the Maquisapayoj guestbook. It was a real surprise in so wild, far and incredible selva. The opinion was as enthusiastic as ours. Shorter, people, it all has been great!!

I recommend: who is going to go to Peru to watch birds – run to ATP! Their price is not nothing, sure, but who asks nothing for such service? Quality of the service of ATP has been checked. A lot of thanks to Ulrike Maennig, guides Abraham, Edgardo, Saturnino!