Dear Robert and colleagues,

Last Saturday we returned from our fantastic trip through Peru. We had an amazingly beautiful trip. In 2 ½ weeks we have had so many impressions and experiences that it feels like we have been away for months.

The organization, local guides and drivers, were excellent everywhere. We especially want to mention the guides in Arequipa and Colca Canyon (Luis Angel) and Cuzco and the Sacred Valley (Adriel): knowledgeable, helpful and very pleasant to spend a few days with.

At the beginning of the trip we were unlucky; due to bad weather our flight to Arequipa was canceled twice. Thanks to joint efforts of you and your local partner we managed to follow almost the entire program despite 1 ½ day delay. We were offered a free massage in Colca Canyon from the Tucano office for the inconvenience suffered, which was very thoughtful. The train ride on the Belmond Andean Express was unforgettable; as if we had ended up in an Agatha Christie movie adaptation. Again, excellent care with very knowledgeable and enjoyable tour guides.

Arriving in the Sacred Valley, we stayed in a beautiful hotel and were truly introduced to Inka culture. The matching top restaurant Mil, which focuses on local products, was a culinary highlight where the food and drinks were prepared and presented with great attention and sophistication. We purchased the cookbook and are going to try it (a little) ourselves. The visit to Machu Picchu was also a great success. Very good that we spent a night there to be able to visit the ruin city twice. It gives a much better view and we were also lucky with the weather, in the morning the sun was shining brightly. In Cuzco we enjoyed a cooking class, very well taken care of, at a local cooking school; great fun! We saw a lot of Cuzco and the Inca ruins in the area. Due to bad weather, the trip to the Rainbow Mountains was canceled. Again, the local agent managed to quickly come up with an alternative program and we visited a few more very special places.

The last few days in Paracas were a nice finish. Boat trip to the islets off the coast was wonderful. The flight over the Nazca lines is special in itself, but unfortunately was literally heavy on Anne's stomach. As a bonus for the previously missed trip to Rainbow Mountain, we received a trip through the desert, with a sunset with champagne, as a gift. Again, very thoughtful and much appreciated.

Without exception, the accommodations were very good. Beautiful hotels, great food, totally what we had hoped for. Thanks to you and the local agent, especially Yasmin and Ronald, for solving problems and providing excellent care.

Thank you again for a wonderful trip and an unforgettable time in Peru.

Sincerely,

Mike and Anne