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Peru

Two Worlds of Peru: The Inca Highlands & the Amazon

Program No. 24828RJ
Experience the dramatic diversity of Peru — from Cusco and Machu Picchu up in the Andes to exploring the Amazon basin by riverboat.
Participant Reviews
5
Based on 18 Reviews
SHOWING
This participant did not give a star rating.
Patricia – Class of 2022 | Mankato, MN
My husband, Randy, sent a review to you soon after we returned from our wonderful trip. The review request was sent probably the end of November (hopefully, it didn't get lost via email as it was well written and thought out). We loved the trip! The attention to detail was incredible. Marcos did a fabulous job of leading us. A truly once in a lifetime experience!
— Review left January 19, 2026
Marissa – Class of 2025 | Derwood, MD
Amazing experience!
— Review left January 1, 2026
Richard – Class of 2017 | Falmouth, ME
This trip was varied in that we spent a week on the Amazon, and a week in the Andes. I am thrilled that I could experience both on the same trip. I also loved that RS supports the indigenous communities. Guides and naturalists were top notch. As usual, RS gets the highest possible marks. Well done!
— Review left December 30, 2025
Beth – Class of 2019 | Ithaca, NY
This program was remarkable - both the Amazon and the Andes portions of the trips were outstanding. The biggest surprise was the excellence of the Peruvian cuisine. We loved all of our tour guides and our tour leader. Everyone was upbeat, energetic, and very helpful. I highly recommend this program - absolutely outstanding!
— Review left December 21, 2025
Sabra – Class of 2025 | Olympia, WA
I Loved everything about this trip. The Amazon was amazing, and the trip leaders and naturalists went way beyond expectations in terms of creating amazing cultural and natural history adventures for us. The Perla (riverboat) was extremely comfortable and friendly in every way. I did not want to leave the Amazon, but quickly was enchanted by Lima, the Sacred Valley, and the archeologic highlands. At every stage we were treated to wonderful subject matter experts and cultural experiences. My one regret was that we didn't encounter any traditional music, except for a few minutes on the train on the way to Machu Pichu -which was lovely. It looks as if this program is no longer offered- and I feel this is very sad. For myself, the itinerary was what brought me to Road Scholar; I couldn't imagine being in Peru and missing either the Amazon or the Archeology, and the other tours I looked at from other vendors did not offer this. PS: So glad I found Road Scholar!
— Review left November 26, 2025
Barbara | Chewelah, WA
Totally Wonderful! This trip exceeded my expectations. The La Pearla time in the Amazon was amazing! The guides could not have been better!! The entire staff were so incredibly hospitable, the boat was lovely, the food was fantastic! They were very cautious with keeping us healthy, hand sanitizer before meals, a paramedic on board and on all our jungle walks. I used all insect shield treated pyrethium clothing and hand treated my hats and boots. I used picaridin on my hands and facial periphery. I never got a mosquito bite. The guides said that malaria is not prevalent in this part of the Amazon. We did not take prophylactic medicine. I did get a lifetime yellow fever vaccine and had zero problems with it. The opportunities to see wildlife and with visit locals were incredibly special! Something we would never get to do without the excellent planning and guides. The second part of the trip to the highlands was also fabulous. The planning by Road Scholar and all our awesome guides gave us the best possible VIP tour of Machu Pichu! We went later in the day after a lovely lunch when there were less people and never had to wait in lines. The train trip there was amazing and super fun! The highland itinerary is really action packed offering so many opportunities. We did opt out of a couple of activities to take leisure time. All our hotels were very nice. The baggage service was a delightful surprise. I again have to praise all our spectacular guides!! We never took Diamox for altitude. All the hotels provided coca tea which we drank a lot and also stayed very hydrated. I did take excedrin once for a headache which took care of it. We also chewed coca leaves with the stevia sweetened wood ash, both readily available at the markets. It is a nice mild energy boost and bronchodilator. My daughter and I both loved this trip and I highly recommend it! Thank you Road Scholar and thank you to all our awesome guides!
— Review left November 24, 2025
Frank – Class of 2022 | Seattle, WA
Road Scholar gave me a comprehensive, unforgettable entrance into the geography, flora, fauna, and people of the Amazon. The same can said for the geography, history, people, and ruins of the Incas.
— Review left November 18, 2025
This participant did not give a star rating.
William | Roseville, CA
This was the most amazing trip!! Mostly everything about it was perfect! Aboard the La Perla, we were treated like royalty! The attention to detail and customer service was outstanding! The food was simply amazing! Our two main guides Victor & Luisa were so knowledgeable and were so eager to share their culture and history. We were so impressed by Road Scholar's immersing us into the local villages and culture. We were honored to be the guests at the local villagers' market, home for dinner, meeting their Shaman. Wow! To be able to go to market, buy food supplies and then donating them to families in need in that very community was so live affirming especially in today's world. The care for each participant before, during and after each excursion was above and beyond. Certainly a trip of a lifetime! And if the Amazon were not amazing itself. We then headed to the highlands of Peru for yet again the most amazing adventure. The local guide was also so knowledgeable and brought her personal experience and culture alive to us all. She stopped and bought us local bread, brought us to the market she attends etc. The highlight was going to a weaving village and along the way stopping in the middle of beautiful nature, looking at the vast mountaintops to have a catered lunch. It felt like paradise and like a script out of a movie. Also, being able to again be immersed into the culture and visit a local school for girls. Lucho, our man guide and guardian angel, was perfect. He made sure that all of our needs were met and that we got to visit and see His Peru and also fall in love with the beauty of the people, sites and fellow trip companions. All of the accommodations were impeccable and the service outstanding. The only comment that I have was that the free air flight from Miami to Peru was not good-we got to it on time but the staff at the Latam airport desk were rude, non helpful and since the flight was free they just said we could not board.
— Review left November 17, 2025
Roxanne – Class of 2025 | Onalaska, WI
Our journey with Road Is Scholar to the Amazon and Macchu Picchu was absolutely perfect. So amazing. This was our first one and we have signed up for two more. It was very well organized, active, creative and interactive. The host and guides were awesome. The local people participating to help teach/demonstrate were absolutely the best.
— Review left November 17, 2025
David | San Francisco, CA
The two week Amazon Basin and Inca Highlands program we just returned from was outstanding in all aspects. Great group leader, informative Naturalists and knowledgable guides. The entire program from start to finish was comprehensive, well planned and extremely well executed. I highly recommend this program for everyone.
— Review left November 3, 2025
Barbara | Montara, CA
Our trip to Peru was outstanding. We loved every minute, from the Amazon to Cusco to Machu Picchu! It was a great cultural experience and we learned and enjoyed everything. The scenery, animal life, food, and Peruvian people were all stellar. This is truly a trip "on the go". We were challenged at times by the hikes through wet mud or lots of uneven stairs, but our guides were always there to assist. What a memorable experience we had!
— Review left October 26, 2025
This participant did not give a star rating.
Kathy – Class of 2021 | Eugene, OR
The Two Worlds of Peru was an amazing trip. Everything was top -notch, including our guides, hotels and meals. We loved the adventures on the Amazon river boat and Machu Picchu. Thank you so much for making a trip like this available.
— Review left September 1, 2025
This participant did not give a star rating.
James – Class of 2023 | Meridian, ID
Trip overall was great, and Lucho was a great, hard-working, highly organized tour director. I was a bit disappointed about the lack of key information in the info packet regarding certain parts of the trip. For example, did you know that when you go to the "pearl" of this trip, Machu Picchu--due to its popularity-- your guide gets assigned to one of seven specific walking circuits, and that they are not allowed to stray from that circuit? I certainly did not, because neither the tour director, RS, or the local guide mentioned that prior to our arrival there. That key point is certainly not covered in the info packet. What does that mean? It means that after perhaps making a 10,000 mile round trip to get there, there are parts of Machu Picchu that you won't be allowed to walk on, see, or photograph.... even if you have the time and energy...just due to the luck of the draw. Just for the record, Circuit 2, which covers the very top of the site, seems to be the most desirable. As it turned out, we were on Circuit 3 downhill from the top. Hotels and food on the tour were great; and in Cusco the hotel took great care of their guests by offering oxygen to anyone having altitude difficulty...which became important to my wife for awhile. All the local guides/naturalists in both the Amazon and Andes--Uber, Uscil, Camila, Mina, etc. etc-- were fantastic. The shipboard crew was also fantastic and included a paramedic to deal with the usual array of travel maladie, and a masseuse; and each of the ship's crew performed multiple jobs smoothly. The crew even had their own band that entertained us nightly with both song and dance. The buses, for the most part, were full-sized and very comfortable; smaller vehicles were used sparingly and only where required, for example in Cusco where large buses are not allowed in some parts of the city.
— Review left May 22, 2025
Marshall – Class of 2020 | Hixson, TN
An amazing adventure contrasting the immensity and wonder of the Amazon River and its jungle with the mountainous Inca civilization ruins surrounding Cusco. The accommodations and food were excellent. Visiting small villages and the local markets provided a great insight into the culture and way of life of the area.
— Review left April 6, 2025
James – Class of 2022 | Mequon, WI
I’ve traveled all over the world and this was my best experience to date. Peru is a terrific destination and should be on everyone’s list
— Review left April 1, 2025
Karen – Class of 2023 | Baxter, IA
Hands down, this experience was 5+ stars! We enjoyed it way beyond what I expected - it has set the bar high for the next trip!!!
— Review left February 10, 2025
Philip – Class of 2025 | Philadelphia, PA
I can't think of a better travel and learning experience in the time allotted.
— Review left February 10, 2025
Bernadine – Class of 2017 | Winston Salem, NC
We've been on several Road Scholar trips. All were really good but this was the best of all. The variety of experiences, the extraordinary food, the many opportunities to interact with locals made for a truly memorable experience.
— Review left February 2, 2025