International ExpeditionsReviews of ietravel.com

When my daughter graduated from High School we decided to take an adventurous trip trip to Peru with International Expeditions. The trip was exceptional from every perspective. The educated guide, exquisite hotels, great food, unexpected experiences and a dynamic itinerary made for a memorable experience beyond expectations.

My wife and I just returned from a wet season trip with IE to Lima and the Amazon. It was tremendous! A comparable experience to visiting the Serengeti a couple years ago: 1. The diversity of wildlife is extreme and up close and personal. 2. The vastness of it all approaches infinity. 3. The staff and guides were top drawer professionals. Lima is a hidden secret. Old (1500's +) colonial Lima is attractive and full of history. Really old (200's +) Inca villages and pyramids are overwhelming in their appeal. Then you go to Iquitos and start your Amazon journey. The mother ship is in great condition and very comfortable, clean and welcoming. The staff is friendly, helpful, supportive, knowledgeable. The naturalists/guides are the best. Experts in the wildlife and flora and good-natured and personable. Yes, it is hot and humid, but very bearable. Yes, there are mosquitos at night, but again very manageable. (We've all experienced much much worse in the US.) In the wet season (50 feet higher water than in dry season) you don't get to walk as much as you do in dry season because terra firma is so much further into the rain forest than you can reach in a boat. But we did get to visit villages and walk in the rain forest. We swam. We went out every morning and afternoon in the skiffs to explore smaller rivers and lakes. Sloths, monkeys, iguana, boa, anaconda, caiman, tarantula, piranha, frogs, toads, and more bird types than you can count. Wow - What a Show!

Excellent trip to the Amazon. Everything was taken care of smoothly.

I have emailed you asking for my balance months ago and never received a reply. How much do I owe you? I need to know for planning purposes. Thank you, Marla

The trip was really wonderful overall. Staff and guides were excellent. Logistics well organized. Food was delicious. The islands and the nature were beautiful. The naturalist was a lot of fun, eventhough he was rather technical at times .. using scientific names. We kidded him about knowing too much and he was a good sport about it. My only complaint was that our cabin (C7) was next to the motor and the generator. We did not get one good night's sleep. Besides the noise there was the vibration from the motor. Imagine putting you heat under the water in a hot tub when all the spouts are on. Even when the motor wasn't on, the generator was going. Augh!!! I took a blanket and slept in the lounge one night which helped a bit. Also, my nephew had a different quieter cabin so I slept there a few nights. My husband muddled through. I would be sure that passengers who choose rooms C7 and also C6 know they are noisy. I have certainly learned my lesson. Otherwise it was a great trip. Our fellow passengers were so much fun. I also loved visiting Aroya. And the entertainment on the last night was terrific. Thanks to all for such a memorable vacation.

Peru amazon, ship and accomodations were better than I expected. Meals and food were great. Multiple daily excursions to see wildlife were the highpoint of the trip. The guides really knew what they were doing and seemed as excited about seeing and finding Amazon wildlife as we were. Village visits and the cultural education our guides imparted gave me the sense of life and living in this region.

Despite some unexpected health problems with the guide at the last minute, a very capable guide was available in a timely fashion. Despite health problems with an elderly couple, the replacement guide dealt with them with compassion with no interruption of the trip for the other travelers. The itinerary was well chosen, the guide was exceptional, and all the lodging and meals were excellent (if always, however, there seemed to be too much to eat!).

Fabulous trip! Very well organized. Very knowledgeable guides. Great food and accommodations.