Diane’s personally guided trip through Patagonia is an expertly planned, immersive adventure. Every detail was thoughtfully arranged, notably the pace of our activities which alternated between active days of hiking and relaxing days of walking, a variety of boating tours, and one day of kayaking with guides.
The time of year and weather were perfect. Local guides were with our small group each day, providing transportation and enriching our experience by sharing their knowledge of local history and and the environment. The beautiful lakes, lush green farms, wildlife, ocean views, Grey glacier, and the mountains of Torres del Paine National Park are beyond description-you have to see it in person.
Lunches in local homes, some prepared by professional chefs, were fabulous. The boutique hotels were lovely and the luxury tents at Riverside Camp on the Serrano River were a fun and memorable experience. I would give this trip a 10 star rating.
My recent trip to Chile is the second trip I’ve taken with Llama Expeditions and I can’t say enough good things about it! The trip was so well thought out and unique. Experiencing the natural beauty and culture of Chile was very impactful and was only made better by the excellent local guides. Visiting with the Indigenous community was an especially memorable experience. Getting to sit together and talk about our shared experiences and cultural differences was very special. The scenery in Chile was spectacular and the food was very tasty! Thank you, Diane, for helping create such a memorable experience for me. Worthy of a return visit!
Great cultural experiences in Patagonia with our tour! Learning about the indigenous people and their history as well as the European settlers was a wonderful experience. Enjoyed hiking and other activities, but the cultural and unique dining experiences set this apart from the typical hiking tour. We felt like we experienced the real deal in Chile!
All of the guides were incredible. Augusto, Ruben, and Patricia are the best guides I have ever worked with from any country. On a scale of 1-to-10, it was a 15! It was a life changing trip for me.
If you’re someone who’s already explored iconic South American destinations like Machu Picchu and the Galapagos Islands and found yourself craving a more authentic, less commercialized experience, the Llama Expeditions Bolivia adventure might be just what you’re looking for.
Designed specifically for the adventurous spirit, this trip took me through Bolivia’s stunning landscapes, including the breathtaking salt flats and high deserts. Unlike the typical sanitized tours, this journey was the genuine experience that left a lasting impression on me.
When we embarked on our Bolivia adventure, the local guides were truly the highlight of our trip. Their extensive knowledge, passion for their country, and warm hospitality made our journey unforgettable.
From the very beginning, they welcomed us with open arms and immediately made us feel at home. They didn’t just provide information; they shared captivating stories and deep insights into Bolivia’s culture, history, and natural beauty. Their ability to navigate the stunning landscapes of the salt flats and high deserts ensured we saw every incredible sight.
What stood out the most was how they made us feel like part of the local community. They introduced us to hidden gems, unique customs, and experiences we never would have discovered on our own. Their personal stories and connections to the places we visited added a profound depth to our trip.
Whether they were offering tips on acclimatizing to the high altitude, suggesting the best local dishes to try, or sharing the legends and folklore that define Bolivian identity, our guides were exceptional. Their dedication to making our trip memorable and enriching was evident in every interaction.
A Few Caveats: This adventure is set at high altitudes, which could be challenging for some and Bolivia’s tourism industry is not as developed as that of other popular destinations. We stayed in the best (in many cases the only) available accommodations on the salt flats and high deserts. These places were unique as the landscape. The charm of this adventure lies in its raw and unpolished nature.
It was the most educational and wonderful trip of my life. It far exceeded my expectations and I have been telling everyone they need to travel to Peru with Llama Expeditions.
Wow. This trip has been truly life changing for me. Thank you so much for crafting such an excellent taste of the Galapagos. This experience and you have been so inspirational to me. I am so grateful to have shared this experience with you.
Before the trip, we were ambivalent about a guided tour, but found that the guides really smoothed the way for us to get to places quickly and focus on the most important sites and events. If you can get our guides for future groups, do so – they really made the trip great!
Thank you so much for putting together such a wonderful experience. You made my dreams of a visit to the Galapagos a reality. It was more amazing than I ever imagined. I look forward to another Llama Expeditions vacation.
My husband and I took a 14 days custom made tour of Peru organized and guided by Llama Expeditions that gave us a one-of-a-lifetime opportunity to see, learn and enjoy the nature, the people ant the history heritage of this magic land.
We began the tour in the beautiful Amazon region, continued to the amazing Cusco, Inca Valley and Machu Picchu sanctuary, took a train to Puno on Lake Titicaca, reached in the end the interesting Arequipa city.
The special touch, vision and love for Peru of Diane Valenti, the founder of Llama Expeditions, helped us a lot in the wrapping up the tour itinerary and succeeded in revealing to us the real heart and soul of Peru.
The guides the agency arranged for us were incredible, beyond our expectations, spoke English perfectly and their explanations and stories were not only educational but gave us the opportunity to better understand the Peruvians way of life, their concerns, thoughts and dreams.
Patricia, Reuben and Alex were the best guides we ever met and it is definitely through them that this tour was one-of-a-kind.
The tour was flawlessly organized and Gustavo, the tour coordinator in Peru, took care of every tiny logistic detail so all we had to do is to absorb and enjoy every second which we did.
I traveled alone as a female student to Lake Titicaca in August 2013. My trip was planned through Llama Expeditions, and I have to admit that I would not have enjoyed Puno nearly as much if I had not chosen to travel through this tour agency.
Before I even arrived in Peru, Diane at Llama Expeditions diligently answered my (probably near 100) email questions about the trip.
I have traveled in Peru extensively, and it was quite apparent that Llama Expeditions managed to combine the best highlights of the area- from train to 5-star hotels to off-the-beaten-path amazing eateries and beautiful hikes, into one pleasantly packed trip.
The first day consisted of the Cusco to Puno PeruRail train (a 5-star review in itself) and transport to the beautiful Casa Andina Private right on Lake Titicaca.
The next morning, we (meaning myself and other single or small group travelers who were ‘pooled’ together from different tour agencies) traveled by boat to the floating Uros Islands where we stayed for a few hours, and continued on to Amantani Island for a home stay.
I was very surprised by the delicious meals served by my home stay family!
The third day, we visited Taquille Island and had a delicious lunch at the top of the island (arrived via hike) at which we learned about the local knitting traditions.
Back at Casa Andina Private that afternoon, I had a chance to regroup before visiting Lake Umayo and the Sillustani Burial Site on the last day- a pleasant surprisingly, the best part of the trip!
Myself, one local row boat operator, and my tour guide were the only ones on Lake Umayo, and the tour guide said that he hadn’t given the tour in 5 years!
We saw a vicuna reserve where only one family lives among the wildlife, and after climbed to the Sillustani Burial Site- since we arrived before noon, we were again the only ones there.
Before being dropped off in Puno, we had lunch at a nearby family farm that had been converted to a restaurant- need I say it was a private lunch, and amazingly delicious.
Enjoyed two trips with Llama Expeditions. Both were well planned and designed so that we experienced all aspects of the countries we were visiting. Would highly recommend you use them for any adventure in the countries they cover.
Trip was planned well in advance with help from Diane Valenti of Llama Expeditions.
Starting out in Lima at the Mandarin in Miraflores thru Cusco, Sacred Valley, Macchu Picchu and colorful train ride to Lake Titicaca.
Diane either met us or had excellent guides weave us around the maze called Lima and / or Cusco.
Had reservations at both Gaston Acurio restaurants and an off the beaten path cerviche place (where we were pleasantly surprised).
Diane also made arrangements for us to visit an indigenous school to observe and dine with the children and their families.
Accommodations throughout were outstanding and we were fortunate to book the Sanctuary in Machu Pichu for three couples.
My recommendation if you’re traveling this far is to take a few more days for the train ride and trip to Lake Titicaca.
The personalized guidance and service we received from Llama made this trip most memorable.
Llama Expeditions and Diane Valenti created a memorable trip to Peru and Macchu Picchu for me and my husband, which will always be one of our most memorable vacations. Their attention to details and diversity of experiences provided us with an opportunity to enjoy the richness of this wonderful country and people.
Diane was able to make arrangements for us to stay at the sanctuary at the top of Machu Picchu. Besides being an amazing hotel, we were able to step out the front door and enter the park when the gates opened. We experienced breathtaking views at multiple levels as we hiked among the ruins and watched the fog lift to reveal the enchanted village.
Our Llama Expeditions guide, Tomas, provide exceptional service to meet our requests. We are both photographers and he went out of his way to point out, and take us to, sights that are not normally photographed.
If you are planning a trip to Peru, we highly recommend working with Diane and her team!
The trip was wonderful. All the guides were personable and very knowledgeable. I particularly enjoyed Liset’s passion about the history of Machu Picchu.
I did the 2 week Patagonia trip. Llama Expeditions is a great way to travel for those who want to do a trip with friends or family and don’t want to have to worry about the enormous task or coordinating/planning an international adventure. Diane will take care of all of that for you. She will coordinate with local experts to find unique activities that you would never find on your own.
We loved the whole thing; so difficult to choose what was the best!
