|
 The
Latest Testimonial...
Nina
Fogelman and Ancient Summit are exceptional!!!
We
loved Peru! The attention to detail from the staff of Ancient
Summit, the itinerary, accommodations, and activities were
absolutely top notch. We have traveled to all 7 continents,
all 50 states, and Peru was our 42nd country visited. In
all those travels, I can't think of a single company with
which we traveled that surpassed Ancient Summit's ability
to customize our trip (to meet our needs precisely!), provide
outstanding guides, accommodations, and activities, and
ensure that we had exceptional memories to last a lifetime!
(follow
this link to read the complete TripAdvisor testimonial...)
Nina,
I am very excited
for you!!! Anne Marie and I have taken many trips (about
53) and Peru is one of our all time favorites thanks to
you. I never thought that we could afford an individualized
itinerary. To see what you want and skip all of things you
don't want is valuable beyond measure. Thank you, thank
you, Barbara
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Hello
-
Just got back
from a 10 day Peruvian vacation put together by Nina Fogelman
of Ancient Summit. This was a vacation of a lifetime - a
40th birthday present for my husband - and turned out wonderful.
Peru is a beautiful
country. We did the Cusco - Sacred Valley - Machu Picchu
itinerary. We stayed at Sol Y Luna for three nights (beautiful
place with beautiful flora), Inkaterra Machu Picchu two
nights (another beautiful hotel) and Royal Inka 1 two nights
(standard hotel but very nice).
Nina put together
a great vacation for us. My husband has MS and mobility
issues, so Nina designed a trip for us that would be comfortable
for my husband but still allow us to see the sights. Our
main guide, Laura, was great. She was friendly, very knowledgeable,
and spoke excellent English. Most of our meals were included
in our package and the food was suprisingly good. We traveled
to tourist sites but also got to visit some homes and villages
that aren't visited regularly by visitors. These stops were
the highlight of our trip. The people of Peru are so beautiful
and we were lucky that Nina let us meet them.
A couple of other
ways Ancient Summit hit the mark. Our flight from the US
was running 8 hours late. I called Nina late at night to
let her know and she promised that they would figure everything
out for us. We missed our connecting flight to Cusco but
Nina's staff in Lima managed to get us on the last flight
of the day to Cusco by doing some majornegotiating with
the LAN rep at the airport. Without her help we would have
not gotten on that flight and would have been pretty shook
up since we really didn't speak the language and would have
put us a day behind in our itinerary.
Again - our guide
and our driver were wonderful. On time and made us feel
safe and comfortabe in Peru. My husband also liked that
we got to spend some meals with our guides and drivers and
we got a chance to exchange stories and the cultures of
two countries.
The
best thing of all about Ancient Summit was the price was
very reasonable. Since coming home and doing a little research
on some other tour companies that I noticed on our trip
- I realized that the cost of our trip was much less than
some itineraries were almost identical to ours (without
the added bonus of meeting local people and villages). (follow
this link on FODOR's)
~
~ ~ ~ ~
Hi
Nina,
Our trip to Peru
was OUTSTANDING in every way!! All the plans were so well
organized, the hotels were beautiful and the tour guides
were fabulous. We loved having lunch with your lovely friends....they
were very gracious and treated us like royalty! Peru is
a very beautiful country with a fascinating history. The
Peruvians were so warm and friendly....we especially enjoyed
the women in the community that you work with. We feel so
fortunate to have had this opportunity and can't thank you
enough for planning this wonderful experience. I am so glad
that my daughter was with us......it gave her great insight
into Latin America. What a time we had!!
Sincerely,Caryn
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
If
you want to travel to Peru and personally experience the
history and culture of the people of Peru, then travel Peru
with Ancient Summit.
My husband
and I have been traveling internationally for many years.
We’ve traveled all across the world, including to
remote parts of Central America, South America, and Africa
with and without the assistance of travel companies. From
our extensive travel experience we’ve come to understand
the benefits and draw backs of booking with travel agencies
and/or tour companies. We firmly believe that we could have
successfully traveled to Peru based on our perspective utilizing
the tons of travel information that is available on the
internet and in books. However, based on our experience
using Ancient Summit for our travel to Peru we now recognize
that by using Ancient Summit it allowed our experience in
Peru to be from the Peruvian perspective and not a internet/book
limited perspective.
While
most of the travel companies utilize a combination of the
same tour guide staff (including many of the high end travel
companies), Ancient Summit is very selective with who they
choose to represent them based on our observations. This
seemed to allow them to better serve their clients (i.e.
the traveler). The group of tour guides and hosts that we
met on our tour felt more like family members and less like
tour guides or strangers as we’ve experienced in most
cases with other tour companies.
To give
you a real example, we were personally warned by the head
of Ancient Summit to be cautious about eating some of the
food at some of the local markets that we would be traveling
to. Again, being experienced travelers, we actually got
a little too comfortable and did eat some food at a local
market that made us very ill (“hospital ill”).
All of our tour guides were informed of our situation and
in each location that we traveled the guides/company staff
actually took care of us and were very accommodating since
their service was based on being honest and personal.
By using
Ancient Summit, we were able to experience Peru from the
perspective of a Peruvian. Ancient Summit provided us with
the opportunity to travel to parts of Peru that were not
“touristy” and that offered a rich experience
of the everyday life and culture. In addition, our tour
guides provided us with great recommendations for restaurants
and we were even able to eat a great lunch of typical Peruvian
foods prepared by locals.
Because
we had such a great experience in Peru, we highly suggest
Ancient Summit for your travels in Peru.
Andrea
and Tykus
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Hi
Nina,
"The service and attention we experienced while travelling
through Peru was beyond our expectations. Our entire trip
was tailored according to what we initially requested. We
had so much fun and were so impressed with the friendliness
and professionalism all of our guides exhibited. Trekking
to Macchu Pichu for 4 days with the team you provided for
us was delightful. We could not believe we had our own chef
and waiter who wore white gloves in the middle of the Andes.
I highly recommend Nina to anyone who is choosing to explore
Peru and wants to be assured they will have an excellent
time and no unexpected complications!!"
Warmly,
Dr Sharon Stills
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Nina,
Thanks for contacting us and thank you so much for planning
a fantastic trip! We've been back a few weeks and swamped
the whole time. However, we wanted to let you know that
Julie and I were both very pleased with everything that
was provided. The guides were incredible and it made life
so much easier to have someone keep us on schedule. Their
local knowledge made everything run so smoothly. The sites
we went to were absolutely incredible. Everywhere we went,
we saw the most spectacular things. Along the way, we saw
a lot of tourists piled on buses with 30 other people. In
those situations, we were always glad to have the guides
just to ourselves. We also loved having free time at the
end of the days to explore on our own.
 We
are also extremely appreciative of having time to have such
amazing meals with Aida and Ricardo. We especially enjoyed
picking fresh trout from the trout farm and other ingredients
from the market with Chef Ricardo. As foodies, we loved
being able to taste all of the local delicacies at the market.
Thanks again for everything you've done for us. We'll definitely
contact you for a recommendation on our next travel plans.
We received the refund, yesterday. Thanks for taking care
of that! Brian and Julie
Nina,
We
had an absolutely wonderful time in Peru. Your staff were
extremely helpful, knowledgeable and attentive to making
our trip a success! Al, Sheila, Jaime, Jose, Carlos and
Jorges took excellent care of us. The hotels were magnificent
and the weather spectacular. We did not miss Macho Picchu
at all, especially since it gave us the time to spend with
Chef Ricardo! Oh and the long drive from Cusco to Puno was
worth it. We were talking to a couple that night in the
hotel who had taken the train - no comparison at all - the
road trip was much better! And I would not have wanted to
miss Raqchi, or the brightly coloured Fugimoro buildings
on the Altiplano.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
As
five female students at or under the age of eighteen it
was difficult for us to plan a trip on our own. We searched
long and hard for someone to help us and Nina was the only
one who was able to accommodate such a young group. Nina
was able to guide us without being overbearing and catered
a trip specifically to our interests.
Through Ancient
Summit we were able to cover an amazing amount of ground
in just three weeks. We spent time in Cuzco, Lima, Puno,
Aguas Calientes, and a rural community. We hiked the Inca
trail, went white water rafting, swam with sea lions, toured
the floating islands and visited markets, museums, and churches
along with countless Inca ruins. We stayed in hotels, hostels,
with local families, and with Nina’s friends.
Working with
Ancient Summit was unique because we were able to get a
real feel for daily life as a Peruvian. We visited villages,
met locals, attended community festivals and ate traditional
meals with residents. We were also able to give back on
our trip and enjoyed working in a local village. Here we
taught children how to brush their teeth, painted a learning
center, and helped with daily chores. Ancient Summit also
provided us with the chance to learn the ins and outs of
village life. We learned to take the cows to graze, how
to make soap out of a root to clean sheep wool, how to weave
and how to harvest and prepare potatoes. Nina provided us
with a good balance between tourism and cultural activities.
We particularly
enjoyed the fantastic meals throughout the trip even as
we hiked the Inca trail. Peru is one the breadbaskets of
the world. Everything is fresh and delicious. Our particular
favorite was Causa Limena, which included potato, avocado,
and chicken or tuna, which we inhaled everywhere we visited.
We would love to return to Peru again and will certainly
be using Ancient Summit when we do. Thank you Nina and crew
for a fantastic experience. (click) Here
are a few of our photos.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Thanks
to you and your team, we had an amazing trip to Peru. The
plan was so well put together that we got to see everything
in spite of some health issues. We may have caught some
bug in the Amazon. Jimmy, Mitchell and Raul were so very
nice. Your Cusco team was quite efficient and got things
very well organized. At one point it appeared that our MP
trip may get shortened due to the strike but your team was
able to pull it off and kept us on schedule. So much so,
that we were the only ones on the entire train to AC!! You
were right about Peru. It is such a beautiful country. The
most fascinating are its people. Everyone is so nice and
helpful. The staff at the hotels we stayed at were very
courteous and polite. Aida is an amazing cook and a very
nice person. We loved visiting the local community that
you work with. Julio is a person full of energy. The kids
are adorable. If any of your prospective clients need to
get a first hand idea from us, we would be happy to speak
to them.
Avneesh & Shulagna
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
My
husband and I initially planned to make a trip to Peru with
a nice upscale educational tour company like Smithsonian.
However, while we were doing online research about our options,
we kept running across the firm of Ancient Summit
and the name Nina. From
our first phone call, there was a difference.
While
other tour companies had a “that’s the way it
is” tone, with Nina the attitude was, “It’s
your vacation. We can make it whatever you want.”
That was really attractive to us because it stood out and
also because it fit our very particular needs and dreams.
Also it was appealing to have our own tailored and personalized
vacation for just a little more than a group tour. We gave
Nina our parameters: We wanted to see Machu Picchu but we
also wanted to fit in the Amazon. We wanted to relax but
we also wanted to have access to local people we might be
able to help through a small charity we founded. I also
wanted to find people to interview for a research project.
For
part of our trip, we thought five-star comfort might be
attractive, but we also thought we might want to get a little
“interesting” too and didn’t mind sacrificing
some luxury in exchange for a rich experience. We like physical
activity and adventure as well as a nice bed. We ended up
with a trip that was far better than we could have imagined,,
with plenty of time built in for relaxation and for us to
do spur of the moment things, which we did, and to rest
through a surprise stomach bug that hit my husband. Nina’s
guides were exceptional – knowledgeable, well-educated,
speaking excellent English, flexible. The drivers also were
experts, which is pretty important in a third-world country.
We were met by a guide and driver at every stop and whisked
to our hotel or site. The guides were available to us at
all times, and if we thought of something off the agenda,
they readily accommodated us. In locations like the Inkaterra
resorts that had their own guides, our experience was also
excellent.
Nina
clearly knows the country well and has excellent contacts.
We feel incredibly lucky to have happened upon Ancient Summit
and we can recommend the firm without reservation. Our trip
was well-balanced with sightseeing, learning opportunities,
physical exercise, hammock time and shopping (we only wanted
a little of this and we got what we asked for – but
what we bought was great quality and well-priced –
artwork, pottery and alpaca sweaters as well as a couple
of market knick-knacks for our kids). Nina also helped us
to organize philanthropic and research activity to fit our
particular needs and wishes. Our Inca Trail hike (the one-day
version) was just enough of a challenge and is a memory
we will always cherish. Nina also arranged a market visit
and cooking class with a local chef in the Sacred Valley,
a fantastic experience. The food in Peru was wonderful –
we ate no processed food the entire time and came home feeling
healthy and refreshed. When we (unfortunately) needed medical
care, the doctor and nurse came to our hotel room and we
felt the medical care was excellent in every respect. The
Sol y Luna resort in the Sacred Valley goes onto our list
as one of the most beautiful places we have stayed worldwide.
Learning about the Inca culture was another highlight and
has touched the way we look at the world.
I
could go on and on but rather than reading someone else’s
notes, I recommend that you call Nina and let her arrange
your own special Andean adventure. I could go on and on
but rather than reading someone else’s notes, I recommend
that you call Nina and let her arrange your own special
Andean adventure.
Marti
and Tom
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
When
I started to think about a trip to Peru in the spring of
2009, I thought that I could do all the planning. After
all, years ago I had no problems when I travelled (without
assistance from a travel agent)
across Europe and Mexico. But since my 22 year-old son was
going to be with me, I researched travel agents for Peru.
When I discovered a recommendation for Ancient Summit at
Fodor's, I contacted Nina
Fogelman. I am very glad I did so.
Nina
found out what was important to us and planned the whole
trip accordingly. It had some very complicated logistics
involving planes, vans and trains. Her representatives and
guides met us at
every juncture. The transitions were seamless, and the inevitable
disruptions were taken care of. We experienced two national
strikes and a cancelled plane flight during our time in
Peru. These were not
problems with Nina's staff overseeing us. Our Cusco guide,
Pilar, was especially knowledgeable and personable. After
lunch at her friend Aida's in the Sacred Valley, we felt
like we were part of her
family.
We were
awfully glad we weren't in those packed buses that we saw
descending on tourist sites. Nina arranged for us to be
in a van with just a driver and our guide. This allowed
us to see sights in the
Sacred Valley, Cusco and at Machu Picchu at our own pace
and without being crowded. Our trek around Ausangate mountain
was spectacular, remote and solitary. We saw one group of
trekkers on our first day,
and another on the fifth day of our seven day trip. Both
of those groups were huge while ours was just my son, me
and five Llama Path porters. On the trek that Nina organized,
we met local llama herders
and school children we will never forget.
The
package that Nina put together for our visit to Peru allowed
us to experience both the culture and the sights of this
amazing country. I heartily recommend her services.
Michael B., Portland,
Oregon
Hi Nina...
Thanks
for following up. We had a great time in Peru, and your
staff was all fantastic. Elga was a wonderful and very educated
guide and Pompeio (sp?) a careful and cheerful driver. Also,
as you may have heard, Eduardo performed a miracle at the
airport on Thursday and got us on the last flight out of
Cusco after our flight had been cancelled and we had been
told that the last flight was full. Not sure how he did
that but we were very appreciative!
The whole trip was very well planned and designed. We enjoyed
all of it and appreciated the pacing and diversity of experiences.
Meeting your friends in Calca and joining them for a delicious
lunch was lovely and we enjoyed the hotel in Ollantaytambo
which was very comfortable, quiet, and so convenient to
all the interesting sights around Ollanta. We ate at an
excellent cafe on the main plaza in Ollanta (called Hearts)
which provides its profits to children’s charities
- you might want to add that to your options for guests?
And of course, Machu Picchu was a special highlight - truly
a magical spot and we so appreciated Elga's experience and
passion about the Incan history and culture. We also loved
Cusco and were glad to have experienced it at the end of
our trip, in part because of the altitude but also because
we got a lot more out of the museums etc after having seen
all the sites the museums referred to.
I'm forwarding to you separately a few photos of our trip,
including our lunch with Rafaela and her family (very special;
I believe we are now honorary godparents of their youngest
daughter!)
I can't think of anything to suggest for improvements. I
will let all our friends know about your company if they
are considering a trip to Peru, and if we return, we will
be in touch again!
Best wishes.
Jackie
HI
Nina,
I wanted
to send you a more detailed message about our trip. First
of all thank you for putting everything together! Usually
I plan everything myself but we never would have gotten
the true flavor of Peru without your help. It is obvious
how much Peru is in your heart. The people there love you!
All
the hotels were great! We were so pooped every night and
just went straight to bed most nights. So the clean and
comfortable accommodations were much appreciated. The river
views from our room in Cuzco were unbelievable. I would
like to have recorded the sound of it raging past our window.
So calming! The Casona de Yucay was a spectacular place.
The grounds and the views- so tranquil. We were so exhausted
though we didn't get to sit at the bar and gaze at the gardens
with a Pisco sour! I would have loved to have spent a couple
of days there just relaxing if we had had the time.
Your
friend Aida was delightful. She is a magnificent cook and
hostess. Would love her recipe for the chicken salad! I
have her email address and will email her a thank you and
pictures. I will also send her a gift from DC- it was very
kind of her to welcome us into her home and she had nothing
but the highest regard for you.
Isadora!
What an amazing woman. I was heartbroken to think that she
supports her husband and 6 children! We were very humbled.
Jimmy our guide arranged for us to have Guinea pig at her
house! That was an experience! I will never forget her as
we look at her beautiful weaving.
All
the pickups were right on time and our guide Jimmy was extremely
knowledgeable and hilarious. He and our driver Jose Roberto
became like family.
The
Inca trail was unbelievable! Another humbling experience.
The porters, chef Richard (who did amazing things with food-
he could work at a 5 star restaurant in the US- to think
he did it all on 2 little burners!!), and our guide Jimmy
never missed a beat. It was embarrassing to see the porters
loaded down with stuff running up the trail in sandals!
I run marathons and I almost "died" on dead woman's
pass!!!!
The
only thing we missed out on was the city tour of Lima. Our
flight was delayed for a few hours in Cuzco but we made
the best of it when we got to Lima drinking the Pisco sours
we were too tired to have in the evenings! LOL We'll just
have to go back! :)
The
only thing that felt a little touristy was the visit to
the ceramics factory bc they just showed us a movie and
the gift shop. I thought we would actually see them make
the pottery. It was fine though bc it was a lovely place
with beautiful stuff.
Oh,
the visit to the chicaria was fascinating. We sampled a
dozen different kinds of corns and the fermented chicha
as well as the chicha morado (spelling). We also got to
play the frog coin toss!
We took
about 600 pictures so I will go through them in the next
couple of weeks and send a pared down version to you.
Thanks
again for everything! We really felt like we were traveling
with family. I'm sure we would have missed all the unique
things like the chicharia, Isadora, markets in Cuzco if
it weren't for you. If I know of anyone going to Peru I
will refer them to you!!!!
All best,
Kathy and Drew
P.
ANCIENT
SUMMIT is great.
Nina
Fogelman and her associates at Ancient Summit in Peru are
fantastic. We have worked with several agencies, both in
the US and South America on previous trips. We really found
Nina and all of her Peruvian associates committed to their
guests' experience; not just the travel or accommodations
themselves (all excellent and well planned) but also the
entire experience in Peru. Nina and Mary, her partner in
Peru, understood this and we felt like guests given the
opportunity to experience a deeper side of Peru than we
might ever have gained planning or traveling on our own.
While we were in Peru either Nina or Mary were frequently
in contact with us, just to check in and make sure all was
going as planned. When a national strike occurred, they
quickly juggled our itinerary and we really never missed
a beat! We definitely recommend Ancient Summit if you want
a personal, customized experience in Peru, not a group tour.
If you're thinking about bringing your younger children...
Everything was great. We have
no complaints whatsoever. We are already talking about going
back. Everyone stayed healthy. No one felt any effects of
the altitude. Everyone (you assigned to us was great. Unless
you don't like the press, I am planning on writing a glowing
and detailed report on TripAdvisor.com, which I typically
do after my trips.
The best food we had, by the way, was at
Tres Keros in Urubamba. Riccardo was a character. My 5-year-old
fell in love with llamas and alpacas. The 9-year-old wasn't
quite up to following me up Huayna Picchu, but we all spent
7 hours on site.
Everyone loves you, by the way.
We felt like we would find a statue of you in one of the
Cusco or Lima cathedrals/churches.
The girls loved the bones. They thought
sliding down the rocks on their butts at Sacsayhuaman was
"awesome". They think the idea of eating cuy is
gross.
One of our favorite places in Cusco was
the local market across the street from San Pedro church.
Jennifer took a photo of some local women veggie vendors
sitting on the floor and got pelted by vegetables. The girls
couldn't get enough of looking at sheep heads being sawed
in half, cow snouts, pig feet, sheep brains, kidneys, hearts,
tongues, buckets of live toads, piles of grubs (or some
sort of larvae), and all the other things that you don't
see here when we go to the supermarket and everything gross
has already been done behind the scenes and the products
are presented to you shrink-wrapped.
Kent
posted
on Frommer's
ANCIENT
SUMMIT is great.
Nina
Fogelman and her associates at Ancient Summit in Peru are
fantastic. We have worked with several agencies, both in
the US and South America on previous trips. We really found
Nina and all of her Peruvian associates committed to their
guests' experience; not just the travel or accomodations
themselves (all excellent and well planned) but also the
entire experience in Peru. Nina and Mary, her partner in
Peru, understood this and we felt like guests given the
opportunity to experience a deeper side of Peru than we
might ever have gained planning or traveling on our own.
While we were in Peru either Nina or Mary were frequently
in contact with us, just to check in and make sure all was
going as planned. When a national strike occurred, they
quickly juggled our itinerary and we really never missed
a beat! We definitely recommend Ancient Summit if you want
a personal, customized experience in Peru, not a group tour.
Carol
Kabel, Ohio
Nina, you are wonderful! Our
trip was soooo much better than if we had tried to do it
on our own. We never could have found such quality drivers
and guides - they made such a difference in our experience.
Your partner is truly a gem - warm, competent and truly
wonderful. We loved all our time with Jimmy; he is so knowledgeable
as well as gracious and patient. He and our son-in-law had
a grand time comparing the Peruvian and Ecuadorian aspects
of the Incas and even the Quechua language. Carlos had heard
a number of the Quechua words as a child that Jimmy was
able to interpret for him.
The lunch with Aida was amazing. It was
so nice to be in her home and meet her husband as well.
It's a toss-up between that meal and the one at Tres Keros
of being the best of the trip. Thanks too for the night
at Sol y Luna - wow! We also enjoyed the stop at for the
private weaving demonstration. That was really a treat.
The only hitch in the trip was the fault
of Continental Airlines and your crew in Lima handled it
beautifully. They arranged for us to go to Mami Panchita's
so we got 5 hours of sleep instead of 5 hours of sitting
in the airport!
Thank
you, thank you, and thank you from all 4 of us!
Pam
Pool
posted on Trip
Advisor
My wife and I just got back from our honeymoon in Peru.
It was absolutely incredible to say the least! Like you,
we wanted to see Machu Picchu as well as the Amazon (we
flew into Puerto Maldonado). With regard to planning your
trip I have two primary suggestions:
First, contact Nina Fogelman at Ancient
Summit Enterprises! We were really pressed for time so we
turned the entire trip over to Nina. I was reluctant to
use a travel agent but I honestly can't say enough about
Nina and her company! She planned the perfect trip; complete
with an authentic Andean wedding in a small village! Absolutely
every detail over the entire two weeks had been seen to.
There is no doubt in my mind that we could not have planned
a trip of the caliber in a 2 years, let alone 2 months!
Even better, her prices are very reasonable.
Second, Inkaterra, especially the Pueblo
hotel, is amazing! I would absolutely suggest you stay there
over any other option near Machu Picchu!
Let me know if you have any further questions.
If not, have an incredible trip!
Trevor
posted on Frommer's
If you are looking for help planning a trip to Peru, my
husband and I just came back from 3 weeks and loved every
minute of it. Our agent was Nina at ancientsummit.com. Nina
is amazing. She lived in Peru for many years and returns
for a couple of months every year so she knows everything
about the hotels, sights, dometic travel etc. thoughout
Peru and how to arrange your trip so you will get the most
for your dollar. She really listens to what you want and
works endlessly to make it happen for you. I can't tell
you how many times she called me, even on the week-ends
with information, questions etc. She is warm, friendly,
easy to work with and so travel smart. I found her name
on this site and wanted to share it with those of you planning
to go. I would be glad to answer any questions you might
have about our trip.
Hi
Nina,
As you
know, I loved my trip, and did not want to return! I feel
very privileged to have been able to go to these non-tourist
stops, like the woman's home in Ollantaytambo, where she
lived the way the Incas had.
Your friend Aida and her husband were wonderful, and what
a fine artist he is! Awanakancha was fun, and we got some
great photos of the animals.
The weaving in their store was so intricate and beautiful.
I would have loved to have been able to buy one of the wall
hangings, which really were masterpieces. I had not expected
such intricate designs!
The
ruins, of course, were magnificent, and came alive with
Carlos' discussions of them. Needless to say, Machu Picchu
was fantastic! We were there for the sunrise, and to watch
as he light spread across the mountains, and the ruins.
It was a great time for photos. The weather was perfect
that day, and there were a few fluffy clouds over the distant
glacier covered mountains. It's astounding to think how
the Incas built those stone buildings and terraces. I want
to know more about them, and their culture and religious
beliefs and practices. InkaTerra was wonderful, and I would
like to have had another night there, with time to explore
more. We did go on a nature hike that afternoon that Carlos
had signed us up for.
The Maras Salt
Mines were fascinating, too. Many great photos from there.
Our
visit to your special community was a definite highlight.
I really enjoyed participating in the entire weaving process,
and to spend that time with these wonderful people. Their
weavings were intricate and beautiful with their natural
dyes. I love the long runner I bought with the animals long
the edges.
Cusco was also
very interesting. The morning trips to the sacred ruins,
and the churches were amazing. In the afternoon, I went
to the Inca Museum, which was very informative. There was
one room with mummies in their wraps or jugs; very intriguing.
Then as I walked back to my hotel, I discovered that there
were a large number of folkloric groups performing in the
Plaza Des Armas! I ran back to the hotel for my camera,
and got a number of good shots. That evening turned out
to be another highlight.
I so
enjoyed meeting both of you. What a wonderful tour company
you have, and what a great way to spend your time, and to
make your living. I can't believe that I've already been
home for a week, and back to work!
Thanks
again for everything!
Gail
Click
Image for Enlargement
Posted
on TripAdvisor
My wife and I just returned from almost a month in South
America. We generally self direct but decided to use a personal
guide for our 8 days in Peru. We found Ancient Summit Enterprise,
Inc. on this forum www.ancientsummit.com and had a wonderful
time in Lima, the Sacred Valley, Machu Picchu and Cusco.
Ancient Summit is run by Nina Fogelman from her ofices in
FL with great support from her family and staff in Peru.
(561-248-5120).
We wanted
to be able to stop whenever we saw a photo op and we wanted
to meet local people as much as possible. She arranged everything
we asked for and our personal guide and driver ensured that
our every wish was fulfilled. I can wholeheartedly recommend
Nina for her attention to detail and personal approach to
planning and executing the tour that you want. She happened
to be in Cusco on our first day and accompanied us to the
Sacred Valley for a special luncheon and tour of the area.
She is truly dedicated to ensuring that her clients are
well cared for. You can't go wrong.
Posted on Frommer's
Our
family of 4 (2 kids 9 & 15) spent 2 weeks in Dec-January
in Peru. While we enjoyed the typical sights (Cusco/Sacred
Valley, Macchu Picchu, short Inca Trail, Colca, Titicaca),
far and away the most exceptional experiences related to
having the opportunity to sponsor and participate in local
community-based charitable efforts in 4 places. Our kids
collected donations of money which supported 2 holiday parties
for children in very poor communities with hot chocolate
and gifts,and provided resources to a grassroots effort
to build small libraries in remote villages. We donated
and helped a local family distribute clothing to the people
who had come down from the mountains to Cusco on Christmas
Eve. The kids collected over 150 soccer jerseys from our
community, and were able to distribute them in villages
and play soccer with local kids and adults alike. It was
extremely moving to see and feel the sincere gratitude and
warmth of the many local people who thanked us and embraced
us and the looks on the kids' faces,receiving what would
be for many the only holiday gift they would receive, is
unforgettable for us and for our children.
How
did we manage all this?--Nina at Ancient Summit www.ancientsummit.com,
who worked very hard and helped us overcome quite a few
obstacles in planning our entire trip. We are quite well-travelled
and I shopped the agents and researched the Forums before
committing to her and rarely have encounterd an agent willing
to devote so much hands-on effort to personalize and customize
travel arrangements, and yet be so cost-conscious.
My
best friend and I decided to go to Peru for a girls trip
with two weeks notice. We knew we needed someone with extensive
knowledge about Peru to help us create a great 9 day itinerary.
We struck gold with Ancient Summit. Nina at Ancient Summit
put together the most marvelous personalized itinerary just
for us for Cusco, the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu. The
two of us had our own driver (Ulysses-in an immaculate mini-van
I might add) and guide (Jose Antonio or Esmeralda) every
day. We stayed in clean and charming hostals that were hand-picked
for us. They were all great. We had a Peru "Contact"
who met us at our hostal every few days to check on us to
see how our trip was going and to see if she could help
us with anything. When we went to Machu Picchu, we had a
private three-hour tour and it was amazing. We never had
to buy a train ticket, site-seeing pass, or pay for anything
(except for our meals on occasion and souvenirs). Other
Americans we met on the trip told us about the nightmares
they had to endure buying train tickets, traveling with
a large tour group, and staying in hostals without hot water
and basic cleanliness standards. We trusted Nina and she
was spot-on with her recommendations. She even organized
a lunch at the home of a Peruvian artist that she knows
in the Sacred Valley. That was such an authentic experience!
Since we had our own driver and tour guide, we were able
to do everything at our own pace and take breaks when we
wanted or just "call it a day" and head home.
We had a few "free days" when our guides would
recommend some great spots to check out for meals or a great
place to explore. It was the perfect balance of tours and
free time. We were never exhausted and we had just enough
independence so we didn't feel like a slave to our itinerary.
From the moment we landed in Lima, we had personalized service.
Every time we got off a plane or train, someone met us with
a sign with our name on it. The other Americans we met were
so jealous of our great "find". Ancient Summit
is the best agency if you want to travel worry-free and
first-class. Reasonably priced too!
If
we weren’t Nina’s most challenging clients to
date, I’m sure we came close. We contacted Nina two
months before our scheduled departure for Peru and Ecuador,
when the trip we had booked through another agent appeared
to be falling apart. Despite the shortness of time and the
complications of our situation, Nina calmly and capably
arranged a superb custom tour for us to Lima, Cusco, the
Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu. At every juncture, we were
met and escorted by wonderful guides and drivers. Our accommodations
were terrific - convenient and very comfortable. Although
Nina had never booked travel to Ecuador, she extended herself
beyond her comfort zone to book us on a Galapagos cruise.
As Nina’s first clients to travel to Ecuador through
Ancient Summit, we can attest to the high quality of the
custom tours Nina arranged for us there. We were looking
for an up close and personal trip – an “untour”
– and were treated like friends, not tourists, everywhere
we went. Thanks, Nina, for a wonderful vacation.
View their photos: Peru
I
can’t begin to tell you how pampered and secure we
felt during the trip you arranged for us to Peru. Traveling
to a third-world country can be a bit scary, especially
when you don’t speak the language. We were so well
taken care of that we never had a moment of concern. We
have been on trips to other foreign countries that were
arranged by reputable companies and found that they were
entirely adequate and proficient. However, working with
you on the Peru trip proved to be an exceptional experience.
Each and every step of the journey went smoothly. While
I gave you the highlights of what we wanted to see, you
made sure that we didn’t miss anything we should have
seen, saving me hour upon hour of research. While each day
was full, you allowed us just the right amount of personal
time to explore on our own.
I doubt that
other travel companies are willing to accommodate the personalized
wish list we had. From the lunch at your friends home to
the cooking lessons for my husband, we were impressed with
the attention to detail. The accommodations were out of
this world. I congratulate you on finding the one place
on earth that my husband can actually relax. I think a mellow
Norm should be named the 8th wonder of the world.
Thank
you for the attention to detail, the calls you made to us
during our trip to ensure that everything was to our liking
and the quality service we received from your staff
and guides throughout our trip. Going to Peru was an anniversary
we will never forget.
All
the best,
Liz G.
We're
just back from 11 days in Peru and can hardily recommend
Ancient Summit Enterprises for a worry-free, just-the-way-we-like-it
experience. Excellent guides, superb accommodations and
a well-laid-out agenda that crammed in all we wanted to
see without wearing us out. They arranged special "treats"
like a cooking lesson from the 2nd best chef in the country.
All of their recommendations were right on the money. They
took such good care of us, we never had a moment of nervousness
about being in a third world country where we could not
speak the language. They even called us several times during
the trip to make sure we were happy. Worth every single
penny!
(comments
from Fromers)
I
just booked a custom 2 week itinerary for Peru in October
with Nina at Ancient Summit. I found Nina to have a real
expertise and understanding of Peru (having lived there
herself.) She helped me put together my fantasy itinerary
at a very affordable price. She answered all my questions
and made every effort to get my trip just right.
It is obvious that Nina is far more than just a travel agent,
she is someone who deeply loves Peru. I can highly recommend
her to anyone looking for a real Peru experience. I can
hardly wait to go!
(comments
from TripAdvisor)
Nina
I want to thank you for putting together one of the best
trips of our lives! From the organization of all our tours,
activities and transportation, to the suggestion of the
greatest hotels/restaurants/sights in Peru - our trip was
flawless because of you. Our expectations were completely
blown away by the reality of our experience, and I would
recommend you to anyone interested in traveling to Peru.
Your level of personal service and attention to detail -
not to mention your knowledge of Peru - is unrivaled and
I feel so lucky to have had Ancient Summit stand behind
our trip. Muchas Gracias! Shey and Dave D.
Click
here to view photos taken by Shey: Shey
Photos
Dear
Nina:
Thanks
to your help and advice, the entire trip was wonderful.
Starting with how to prepare for the altitude and then the
sequence you helped us plan worked out perfectly. We particularly
appreciate that you were able to put it all together on
such short notice.
Having
a local guide and capable driver at our disposal during
our time in the Sacred Valley really added to the experience.
Being met at each step of the way and escorted to our next
stop took away a great deal of the normal worry and stress
associated with traveling in a foreign country. Our guide,
Jose Luis, was born and raised near Aguas Calientes and
had a real knowledge of and passion for the area. He was
very patient and a great teacher. The van was spotless and
our driver, Alex, was very capable. We felt spoiled having
the whole van to ourselves as most of the smaller groups
were transported in small station wagons.
After
having our wonderful guided tour through Machu Picchu, on
our fifth day in Peru, we ran into a woman who had booked
a whirl-wind tour through another company and had arrived
in Machu Picchu from Cusco that day. She was going back
to Cusco the evening of the same day. She had no guide through
the ruins and absolutely no knowledge of or appreciation
for what she was seeing. She was also struggling with the
altitude because of lack of acclimation. What a contrast
from our experience!
Our
day on Lake Titicaca was absolutely perfect. We had hoped
to see reed boats in the Uros floating islands, but never
anticipated the opportunity to ride on one! The visit to
Taquile Island was interesting and we were moved by the
local struggle between maintaining an ancient way of life
and moving into a cash economy.
When
we started planning the trip, you told us that we were not
allowing nearly enough time to see everything we wanted
to see. You were right, of course, and we will have to return
to experience what we missed.
We will
be happy to recommend your services to anyone planning a
trip to Peru.
Kathy
and Barry Bracken
Water's
Edge B&B and Kaleidoscope Cruises
P.O. Box 1201 Petersburg, AK 99833
www.petersburglodgingandtours.com
info@petersburglodgingandtours.com
1-800-To-The-Sea, local: 772-3736
Link
to Wonderful Photographs, courtesy of Barry Bracken: Photos
|
