Yampu ToursReviews of yampu.com

Recently retired, it was now time for the wife and me to start on the bucket list. Where to start? Costa Rica was highly recommended by friends and family so the decision was made to go. That was the easy part, what do we want to see and do? The wife wants to do this and I want to do that, oh, I also wanted to cruise the Panama Canal while we were down there, so let’s throw that into the mix and figure it out. Looking at brochures, reading reviews we finally put together a list of things that would keep both of us happy. It quickly became apparent that the fixed itineraries of other tours simply did not include everything we wanted to do or offer the ability customize a trip. That’s where Yampu came in, we had previously attended a travel show in Ottawa Ontario and the company representative behind the booth had impressed us with her knowledge and explained to us what the company had to offer so we took a brochure. Fast forward, to the late fall of 2016, now retired and finished with the move across the country to our new retirement home, it was time to put the plan into action and contact Yampu. From the beginning, Karolina was very professional; she noted our wishes and asked pertinent questions. Very detail oriented, she even asked questions concerning diet, allergies, 1 bed or 2, aisle seat or window etc. From the information gleaned, Karolina and her team put together a customized, very detailed and appealing proposal that met our needs. Only the air travel to and from the location had to be tweaked. A few days later, it was done; all that remained was to pack our bags and go. From the moment we landed in San Jose, Costa Rica and for the next two plus weeks there was always a Yampu or an affiliated rep to make life easy. This was particularly appreciated when we crossed the border from Costa Rica into Panama at Paso Canoas. The procedure for the border crossing was one of controlled chaos, few signs, little English and a crush of humanity in hot, humid 30+C heat. We met many tourists without a guide, who were stressed and did not know where to go and what to do. Without our guide the crossing would have been a long, tiring and very frustrating ordeal. Our rep guided us and in ~1.5 hours we made it through the crossing and we were handed off to another guide in Panama who had cold drinks and an air-conditioned van waiting for us. It was the little things such as this that made Yampu stand above the crowd, life was good! Overall, the trip was amazing, yes, there were 1 or 2 places were the food was mediocre and a toilet did not work, but that’s life. On the flip side of the coin, we had many unforgettable experiences that will provide a lifetime of wonderful memories. What a great start for our future retirement trips, thanks to Karolina and her team’s exceptional ability to customize and coordinate all facets of travel, accommodations, excursions and guides, the bar has been set high. Thank you, Karl and Simone

I thought the tour guides were excellent. They were knowledgable and made us feel safe the entire time. Their english was very good so they were easy to understand. The entire trip was customized to our liking. We learned a lot and got to see a lot in all 4 countries. I personally didn't think the food selection/restaurants were that great. I didn't think they were very authentic and I thought each food place was repetitive. Especially in Hanoi when we ate at the same restaurant (Indochine) as we did in Ho Chi Minh City. I also think less time for the lunches were needed. We could have just done something quick to keep the momentem of the day going. Overall though it was a fabulous time!

Yampu organised a 'last minute' Galapagos land trip for four adults; they were able to secure the subcontractors and guides, hotels, activities, and internal transport to the standard agreed for both Quito and Galapagos. The hotels and the local guides were very good and met our expectations. The arranged lunches and dinner were always good, and met our expectations. We are experienced WW travellers but this was our first time in South America and were glad we had Yampu's expertise and assistance. On San Cristobal, one of our travellers fell ill due to heat exhaustion; the local team management organised medical assistance at the local A&E (ER) and Amy, who worked in local guide back-office, helped translate and stayed with our traveller late into the night. Besides that, everything else went to plan. Travel ideas: plan to spend a few days outside of Quito; the market activities and the countryside were absolutely stunning. If you want to see animals at Galapagos, plan ahead because not all islands have all animals and they don't always show up so you may need coverage and time. Santa Cruz was the most 'modern' town on Galapagos; Isabella was laid back and very cool. Overall, we had a great trip and Yampu can help even the most experienced travellers. Thanks Yampu!

We have gone on many trips with Yampu. They are always well planned and well executed. If there is an unexpected glitch, they always solve the problem professionally and expediently.

Yampu did a fantastic job in planning my family vacation. Every encounter with a tour personnel was impeccable.

Dear Jose: First of all, I wish to thank you and your staff for working with us to make our trip memorable. I know we had had last minute changes that you handled admirably. The guides and drivers were so knowledgeable, courteous, and eager for us to learn about their country. We enjoyed the laid back relaxed atmosphere of Isla de Rosario. The weather was perfect, the food fresh and graciously served and the rooms had an island vibe. The only drawback which many others have mentioned on trip advisor, was the inconsistency of hot water. The explanations we were given as to why the hot water for bathing was at times unavailable were really not credible. The Sofitel in Cartegena is a truly beautiful hotel. The spa is fabulous. However, the staff in the hotel is not quite up to 5 star standards although they do try. Our guide, Julio is a true gentleman with wonderful inside stories making our tour of old Cartegena and Il Poppa delightful. If I wasn't so embarrassed I would send pictures of us totally covered in mud from the volcano. I know we asked for the visit to be included, but I would not recommend it for the faint of heart. Oscar, our guide in Bogata is truly remarkable. His knowledge of the Gold Museum, Mount Serratt, and especially the fantastic Salt Museum, certainly greatly enhanced our visit to Bogota. PS. We all really enjoyed our lunch at Casa Isidra and thank you for recommending it. If all Perivian food is as delicious as our lunch, we will be looking for Peruvian restaurants in DC.

I'm a fairly busy person, but really wanted to go to Antarctica. Yampu Tours handled the whole trip for me, sorting through the various expedition options and helped to find the one that was best for my needs. The trip was incredible and without a doubt the best adventure I've ever had. This is my second time using Yampu, last year they sorted out an adventure for myself and my mother to visit Myanmar. That too was an amazing trip. All of their guides are wonderful and well chosen.

Had an amazing experience. Traveling with kids is always a challenge especially in a foreign country and not speaking the language. However Yampu Tours made our vacation a memorable one. At no point of time, we felt uncomfortable. All the guides and drivers were resourceful and very helpful. Wendy was helpful from the time we planned our trip. She made the itinenary not only planning for the adults but thinking of the kids as well. There were several activities for the kids - seeing them laughing was priceless. I hope to plan many more memorable trips with Yampu. Kiran