We wanted to rent a car and drive ourselves in Brazil and had been warned by many people that there are parts of the Brazil that are dangerous for tourists. Sumak Travel and its local tour operator put together a 12-day trip that included five days in our own rental car. It was exactly what we wanted and it worked out great. They promised to be available by WhatsApp 24/7 and they made good on that promise. They also did an excellent job of choosing local tour guides. The whole experience was fantastic and I would let them plan another trip for me for sure!

Philip & Friends
Travelled February 2023
Tour: Sao Paulo, Paraty & Rio de Janeiro Tour

This is the second time we have used Sumak Travel. They did a great job first time for Bettina and I and we asked them to put together another tour for us and our two kids (adolescents). We wanted a balance between eco/nature/flora/fauna with knowledgeable and enthusiastic guides, some thrill seeking (zip wires/canoeing/whitewater), authentic/local Costa Rican owned and run facilities (no chains) and an occasional bit of luxury for when we were exhausted. More than that we wanted to feel ‘independent’ (self-drive) but we didn’t have the time to be on a journey of discovery every day. As we planned the trip, the local expert came up with a range of ideas and options and was unbelievably tolerant to our ever changing desires to develop a programme that ticked all the boxes (including the Costa Rican SIM delivered to our hotel). He did this. Better still, we felt we had our own personal guide, ever-present via WhatsApp, wherever we were, whatever the question – an instant response… and a good one too. Costa Rica has so much to offer – too much if you have no idea where to start and limited time. That was us. Sumak Travel took us ‘by the hand’ and spent their time to really understand us as a family and come up with a thoughtful, tailored tour. We had such a great time. I’ve only great things to say about Sumak Travel! Where next?

Bettina, Martin & their (adolescent) kids
Travelled December 2022
Tour: Elements of Natural Costa Rica Tour & Sandy Beaches and Jungle Costa Rica Tour

We have been traveling in time on an incredible journey through the mystical lands of the Maya, from the 16th Century BC, when the ancient site of Lamanai in Belize was founded, to majestic Tikal, City of Voices in Guatemala to immersing ourselves in the present day traditional lives of the Tzutujil people in San Juan la Laguna on the shores of Lake Atitlan, who are direct descendants of the Maya. Everywhere the scenery and wildlife have been spectacular and the ancient sites awe-inspiring, but most striking of all has been the warmth and generosity of the people. Our grateful thanks to the team for making all this possible.

Ann & Geoff
Travelled November 2022
Tours: Captivating Guatemala Tour & Mesmerising Belize Tour

Sumak Travel exceeded our expectations! My husband and I needed help planning and executing a one month rather complex trip to Colombia and Brazil. Sumak Travel connected us with local travel agents that were thoughtful, professional, and very responsive. Our itinerary was individualized to meet our wishes. The agents also made great recommendations as additions to our basic plan. On the ground the drivers and guides selected were friendly, knowledgeable and courteous. We felt safe and well cared for the entire time. We highly recommend Sumak Travel!

Deborah & Husband
Travelled August 2022
Tours: Elements of the Criollo Colombia Tour and Amazon Rainforest Tours in Brazil

Wow! What an amazing trip, and it was all thanks to Agus and her team. Planning for this trip was of course very complicated in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic but we always knew Agus would be taking care of us. We were always listened to and were able to curate a trip that was perfect for us (active, hiking, lots of new food and sights!). I am already excited to plan another South American trip with the team and have told everyone how amazing our trip was.

Lauren & Dan
Travelled January 2022
Tour: Elements of Journey to the End of the World – Patagonia tour

WOWZA! This trip was a fabulous adventure with a very well thought out (but flexible) itinerary! Absolute top-notch cuisine and gorgeous, exotic locations. The organizer was extremely attentive and attuned to pretty much every minute of our days, making sure all was well, on time and up to his very discerning standards! ALL of the components – from our (fantastic and fun) drivers to our (delicious and sustainable) menus were carefully curated, and it showed! The retreat facilitator was exquisitely interesting, flexible and energetic and very dedicated to making sure all the travelers had what they needed and were content. Her intuition, intellect and sheer presence is unmatched! THANK YOU FOR A GREAT EXPERIENCE!!

Jennifer
Travelled December 2021
Tour: Women’s Wellness Retreat in Costa Rica

This was the best family vacation we have ever taken! A trip of a lifetime! Thank you Sumak Travel and everyone who helped pull together an incredible itinerary in Costa Rica based on our unique needs and wishes. Not only were all the destinations, accommodations, and activities perfectly curated to the experiences we were wanting, but it was an invaluable benefit to have it all pre-arranged so all we had to think about was where to be and when. There are so many details involved in traveling internationally, and it’s usually been our responsibility to handle them all. Sometimes you take a chance on one or two of them and end up disappointed or worse. With Felipe’s expertise and experience, we could trust that we were in good hands every step along the way. From the first inquiry about our dream to travel to Costa Rica to the moment we regretfully stepped on the plane for our return trip home, our experience with Sumak Travel was top notch. Excellent communication, patient and understanding responses to our many questions, and regular messages to check in during our trip made us feel at ease and concentrate on having a good time. Our accommodations were incredible and our itinerary was balanced in just the right way to give us some deep nature time and then more luxurious stays. It is not an easy task to please everyone in a family, but this trip pulled it off. We keep debating which part we loved the most! The hosts, guides, and other people we met along the way were were incredibly kind and helpful. Even though we learned so much about Costa Rica, took in so much natural beauty, and enjoyed so many delicious meals, we left wanting more and would love to return again. We cannot recommend Sumak Travel more highly. We hope we to work with you again to plan another trip and have been telling friends and family about our excellent experience with you. Thank you, thank you, thank you!

Noah, Amy, Ariana, & Louisa
Travelled July 2021
Tour: Elements of Natural Costa Rica Tour & Sandy Beaches and Jungle Costa Rica Tour

Our trip to Costa Rica was incredible. Our trip planner Felipe was above superb. This was the first time working with a travel agency and the experience set the bar high. His guidance, knowledge, communication and patience with me with wonderful. Our original trip was planned for March 2020 but due to the pandemic, we moved the trip to Dec 2020. Felipe supported every step of the process, provided a number of amazing experiences and was available at all times during the trip. The expeditions were great, we had a lot of fun during the park tours, coffee plantations, beach days, horseback riding – everything was so special! All the guides, transfers, hosts were so welcoming and so kind. We can’t thank Sumak Travel enough for creating a trip that my family and I will always remember. I will always use this travel service for future adventures!

Jessica & Family
Travelled December 2020
Tour: Elements of Sandy Beaches and Jungle Costa Rica Tour

Wow we were so lucky to do this trip of a lifetime in Costa Rica before the coronavirus lockdown! My husband and I have travelled very widely but I can honestly say that this was the best holiday ever. Firstly Sumak Travel really listened to our brief and found us the most amazing, beautiful and interesting places to stay. Often off the beaten track. Always they had an interesting twist whether that was their location, their eco practices or the people who ran them. Many shone on all these counts. Sumak Travel took care of us every step of the way. We had a WhatsApp group and the local team constantly checked if we were having fun. We were! They suggested some fantastic experiences that we would never have thought of. The standouts amongst those were the fantastic foodie tour and a night kayaking with bioluminescence which was utterly magical. The local guides and suppliers were great, always showed up on time and took us to wonderful places. Also Rancho Margot, an inspirational eco-enterprise, completely captivated us. An amazing story and a stunning location. I cannot recommend Sumak Travel highly enough. Roll on the end of lockdown and maybe we can do another trip. Thank you so much Felipe and all your team!

Liz & Malcolm
Travelled February 2020
Tour: Elements of Natural Costa Rica Tour and Sandy Beaches and Jungle Costa Rica Tour

Having spent such a magical time in Costa Rica, we can fully appreciate why the country has such a good reputation. During our travels we met really interesting people; it was an extremely rewarding experience. We were very pleased with all the accommodation chosen throughout the trip, in particular because all the families and local people running them were so friendly, welcoming and helpful. We had many interesting, knowledgeable guides throughout, however, Jose Pablo, our local guide and driver who was with us for a good portion of our trip, has to stand out. He is such a lovely, gentle and genuine person, with a deep love for wildlife.
Puerto Viejo was a delightful place to visit and a great location to start our Costa Rican journey; it has such a wonderful mix of friendly people and a majorly laid-back vibe. While we were there, we walked along various parts of the Caribbean coast, all of which were captivating. We really enjoyed the lovely family-run eco-enterprise Finca Surá in Sarapiquí and we would highly recommend it to anyone with an interest in wildlife and traditional, organic farming. Another highlight for us was Los Campesinos Ecolodge in Quebrada Arroyo, a great community-led initiative. The 7km walk along a path through the rainforest, created by all members of the village, is not to be missed. Río Celeste, Dota and the Osa Peninsula were also magical!

Ann & Geoff
Travelled November 2019
Tour: Elements of Natural Costa Rica Tour and Sandy Beaches and Jungle Costa Rica Tour

Sumak Travel put us in touch with their trusted local tour operator in Ecuador, that worked collaboratively with us to develop a trip that exceeded our expectations. Our experience with David and his team was fantastic. Communication was prompt, clear and responsive. David actively sought out and listened to what we wanted to see and do, as well as the budget at which we were looking for.

We highly recommend this company to other travellers!

Scott & Wife
Travelled August 2019
Tour: Elements of From the Andes to the Pacific Coast – Ecuador Tour

We had a fantastic tour organised by your trusted tour operator in Argentina! The guides were lovely and the camping facilities great. Having two guides on all hikes really helped, and I had a guide to myself some of the time!

Claire & Partner
Travelled February 2019
Tour: Elements of Journey to the End of the World – Patagonia tour

We really enjoyed the trip! David from your local tour operator in Ecuador did a great job lining up a beautiful, varied and interesting itinerary. He kept in good contact with us throughout the planning and also during the visit to adjust to a couple of delays. We greatly appreciated that attention was given to slowly gaining altitude throughout the visit. By the time we reached Cotopaxi, we were able to walk to base camp. The driver, Jose, was super – as were many of the other guides such as Roberto in Cuicocha and Janette in Quito. Hacienda Zuleta was a highlight: an elegant, historic and welcoming oasis, set in gorgeous countryside with many things to explore (hiking, condors, gardens, cheese making) and delicious food to enjoy. At Bella Vista in the Cloud Forest, we had the good chance to meet the owner, Richard, who happened to be in town. It was interesting to hear what it has been like to envision and establish the property over 20 years. We were not at the level of the dedicated birders, but we still enjoyed the setting, birds and hiking. Overall it was an excellent experience!

Connie & Richard
Travelled December 2018
Tour: Elements of From the Andes to the Pacific Coast – Ecuador Tour

The local tour operator in Chile gave us one of the best tours we have ever had… We saw the life of the people around Santiago… It was amazing. We had a couple of extra stops at a church and cemetery that weren’t one the itinerary because we wanted to. Stopped at a road side for empanadas… on time, super friendly, very knowledgeable and highly recommended.

Rindy & Husband
Travelled November 2018
Tour: Atacama Desert Tour

We had a marvellous holiday planned through your trusted tour operator in Ecuador. Working with the company from the UK in advance was a joyful and exciting experience. Our dreams were more than realised! An 8-day road trip with our private driver/guide Santiago was fantastic, taking us to remote parts we could not have visited on our own or by public transport. Our 5-day stay in the Amazon Basin at an indigenous family camp was amazing. Thank you!

Caroline & Michael
Travelled November 2018
Tour: Elements of Southern Highlands & Amazon Jungle – Ecuador Tour

Your local tour operator in Mexico was absolutely fantastic, I could not recommend them more. The itinerary was worked out in excellent detail, they took a huge amount of time to make the trip perfect for us, even when we changed our minds, added requests etc. They made it work for us in no time. The level of organisation was flawless, communication perfect and the whole trip perfectly hit our brief of being enjoyable and memorable, while supporting the local communities. The best testimony we can give is that our host Enrique in Nuevo Durango said your local tour operator supports and pays his community better than all the other tour companies he works with. We must give a special mention to Enrique, his family and the Nuevo Durango community, where we ate and slept for three nights, a fascinating place and lovely people who absolutely made our holiday. If you are planning a trip in Mexico, I urge you to ask specifically to stay in Nuevo Durango, you will not regret it!

John & Partner
Travelled November 2018
Tour: Elements of Exploring the Mayan World – Mexico Tour

Another fantastic trip we arranged through a Sumak Travel local partner! The local tour operator in Guatemala is the best tour company being able to perfectly blend cultural, environmental friendly and sustainable activities. From the first point of contact, Pablo was quick to respond getting to know our interests to create the ideal itinerary for us. All of our guides were extremely knowledgeable. The accommodations were charming, often with first class meal options and beautiful views. To say our visit to Guatemala changed our lives would be an understatement! They are the model to which all travel agencies should strive to be! We will definitely be back to experience more of the beautiful scenery and people!

Thank you for another fabulous vacation that allowed us to support the local economy with minimal impact on the environment. We will be contacting you again in the new year for another experience!

Kimberly & Greg
Travelled August 2018
Tour: Elements of The Captivating Guatemala Tour

The trip was a success and the tour organised was awesome! It was short and sweet, perfect given the heat and the ages of my kids. We learned about many of the plants in the selva and had a very good talk with all of our guides back at the main house after our experience there. It was nice to get away from the big groups of tourists and do something different as well. The local tour operator in Mexico is very focused on establishing a place where people can learn about the community, cultural practices, and proper local stewardship of the ecology. This is exactly what I am interested in learning, and look forward to returning to learn more about the area and even support the local community.

Juan & Family
Travelled July 2018 
Tour: Elements of Exploring the Mayan World Tour

I wanted to thank you so much for connecting us with your trusted local tour operator in Guatemala! Our trip was fabulous – everything was meaningful, well organized and well thought out. I would highly recommend them to anyone wanting to travel to Guatemala! Sofia is a total gem, and couldn’t have been more personable or professional. This was truly the trip of a lifetime – we have so many fantastic memories!  I so appreciate everything being tailor-made to our desires. Our ceremonial experience with the Mayan healer was amazing! At Tikal, we were lucky enough to have a sunset solstice experience on top of the temple. We had an amazingly exceptional trip. Thank you again!

Jo Ann & Larry
Travelled June 2018 
Tour: Elements of The Captivating Guatemala Tour

The itinerary was most helpfully tailored to my requirements. The arrangements put in place worked very well and timely adaptation was made when local circumstances made changes necessary. As a solo traveller these aspects were really important and thus highly commendable. The majority of accommodation was very good and well located for individual exploration in any free time. The involvement with local communities and families certainly added to the overall experience and knowledge of Peru and Bolivia and is a most definite plus element to this type of tour. All the scheduled activities built in proved extremely rewarding. It was a really intensive and immersive experience that for someone of more senior years requires good health (altitude issues may materialise), mobility and a willingness for adaptation and flexibility. For instance, the 3 day tour from Uyuni is certainly more geared up towards the younger tourist but the demanding conditions are worth it for the scenery and wildlife are amazing. Overall a brilliant way to experience the countries in freedom from the more regimented and commercially organised group tour!

Ken
Travelled May 2018 
Tour: Combination of The Inca Empire Tour in Peru with the Essential Bolivia Tour

When you travel, you rarely have the opportunity to meet local people who welcome you as if you were part of their family. However, we were so lucky to be part of a Chilean family who hosted us and looked after us as if we were family, in the amazing Atacama Desert!

Maria & Greg
Travelled January 2018 
Tour: Elements of The Atacama Desert Tour

I spent an unforgettable week at the lodge in Xixuau. Getting there was itself an adventure. It’s a remote and beautiful location that I believe gives one a real sense of that part of Amazonia, not only in terms of the natural world but also in terms of the isolated communities living out there. Chris and his family and guides facilitate an experience that thankfully omits the very structured and choreographed program that so many lodges/operations seem to prescribe. I was able to explore the waterways on my own (by canoe) if I chose to, and for me this was an experience far richer than following a guide for every excursion. Having said that, my guide at Xixuau was always available to take me out, night or day, and was very helpful in preparing me for venturing out alone. Obviously Chris’ rich experience and knowledge of the area is invaluable too. I think what was also special was the feeling of being part of the family for a week, rather than just guests at an impersonal lodge. All in all a fantastic experience I would recommend to anyone wanting a taste of Amazonia.

Bobby
Travelled December 2017 
Tour: Into the Jungle in Brazil

Your trusted tour operator in Chile sculpted a very enjoyable 4 days in the outstanding Atacama. Also, they went above and beyond to assist us when our flight was cancelled.

Arthur & Partner
Travelled November 2017 
Destination: Atacama Desert in Chile

Sauce is situated in the Amazon Basin in northern Peru, about 40 km south of Tarapoto. It is a pleasant town spread out along the shores of the tranquil Blue Lagoon and all along the streets are a variety of interesting shops, cafes and restaurants, with many food stalls by the wayside. Because Sauce is on the edge of the Amazon Rainforest, there is a great diversity of wildlife. Birds and butterflies of all colours abound, and exotic trees and plants flourish in the surrounding countryside. The town is famous for its waterfalls and you can wander along the edge of the lake or up into the surrounding hills for a longer hike. The people who live in Sauce, although they have very little in a monetary sense, are friendly, welcoming, always smiling and happy to share, so our time spent volunteering here for a month in September 2017 was extremely special.

What followed was a whirlwind of incredible experiences. Highlights include:

·         Seeing such an amazing variety of iridescent humming birds and glimpsing a Cinnamon Screech Owl in the dark, thanks to Rangers Kenny and Wilmer at the Abra Patricia-Alto Nieva Reserve.
·         Visiting Kuelap, the Citadel of the Cloud People, the Chachapoyas, at the top of the world in Northern Peru – even more awe-inspiring because of our lovely Peruvian guide, Carlo Magno, whose knowledge of his people’s history brought the site to life.
·         Riding the roller-coaster road between Leimebamba and Celendin, considered to be one of the most beautiful but terrifying roads on the planet!
·         Trekking in the scary footsteps of the Incas, up and down hundreds of stone steps along the edge of a precipice in the company of our hilariously stalwart fellow trekkers and our brilliant guide, Lysandro, to finally reach the Sun Gate and the glory of Machu Picchu spread out before us.
·         Wandering the ancient streets of Cusco, a fresh discovery around every corner, and immersing ourselves in Inca culture, while exploring their breath-taking sites along the Sacred Valley.
·         Sailing over Lake Titicaca to visit the Reed Islands, numb with cold and in awe of the resilience of these people who have lived there for centuries.

During our travels with your trusted tour operator in Peru, we have constantly been impressed by the knowledge, professionalism and warmth of all our local guides and drivers. Although the accommodation has varied wildly, from basic wooden hut in Fundo Alto Nieva, to palatial rooms in Cajamarca and the wonderful charitable Ninos Hotel in Cusco, all have been ideal for their surroundings, with helpful and welcoming staff throughout.

We have had an unforgettable time in Peru and it has been a joy to meet such sociable and friendly people, so thank you to you, Johanna, and all your colleagues for helping to make this such a memorable experience.

Ann & Geoff
Travelled September 2017 
Tours: Combination of Treasures of Northern Peru and the Inca Empire Tour

We had an excellent tour in Colombia. The driver who picked us up at Bucaramanga was particularly wonderful, serious and professional. He really looked after us and gave us some hormigas to try. He contributed very much to our wonderful trip experience. Another example of our positive experience: we made friends with the 6 year-old son of the owner of Shangrila, the place we stayed at the bottom of the Chicamocha canyon. Having returned home, we’ve bought him some school books. Not knowing how to get them to him I got in touch with your trusted tour operator in Colombia and they replied immediately saying I may send the books to them and they’ll ensure he receives them.

Layo & Partner
Travelled July 2017 
Tour: Elements of Chicamocha Canyon & Colonial Colombia Adventure

An absolutely incredible trip expertly curated by the thoughtful local ears and eyes of your local tour operator in Peru and their community partners. I would choose this team again in a heartbeat, they ensured a brilliant adventure throughout!

Kat & Partner
Travelled May 2017 
Tour: Elements of The Inca Empire: Lake Titicaca & Machu Picchu Tour

I cannot recommend the Lickan-Antay experience enough. Your Chilean tour operator was a huge help during the trip planning process. They answered all my questions and processed the payment with great speed and without issues. On the day of the excursion, pickup was prompt and the driver friendly. The Lickan-Antay experience itself was wonderful. I was lucky enough to have a private tour. My local guides were warm, welcoming, incredibly knowledgeable, and truly showed great pride in their culture. They seemed to genuinely enjoy being able to share an appreciation for their culture with visitors. I learned an incredible amount – everything from which desert plants were edible, to the traditions around llama raising, to how to cook corn traditionally. Being able to sample the local cuisine (llama!) was a treat as well, and I thoroughly enjoyed lunch, all of which was prepared with local ingredients. I felt a much deeper connection to San Pedro and the surrounding area after this excursion, and it truly stood out as one of the highlights of my trip.

Kaitlin
Travelled March 2017 
Tour: Elements of the Atacama Desert tour

Sumak Travel and its trusted tour operator in Colombia were incredibly helpful and efficient in helping us to book a real adventure of a trip! Colombia was a first for us and we didn’t know what to expect – this trip was one of the first things we did and it really set the tone for the rest of our time away. We had the chance to meet the locals, better understand the pressures that people face and get a small glimpse of another world. Thank you Sumak. Your guides and cooks are excellent people!

Laura & Husband
Travelled February 2017 
Destination: Lost City Trek in Colombia

We had the most magical, extraordinary time with Eloy in Quillabamba, and with Alejandro and Elvira, who were such incredibly generous, warm hosts. Alejandro immediately made us feel so welcome, it was such an honour to learn the history of his family’s beautiful farm, and to share meals with him and his amazing wife, Elvira. What an incredible woman! A full time mother, farm worker… and an amazing- self taught -chef! After a jungle hike into the beautiful farmland, tasting golden, buttery pineapples fresh from the field, in all honesty I just didn’t expect to get 3 course, Michelin-star meals! As coffee lovers it was so special for us to roast and grind our own coffee- the Inca way! We also made a new friend in Eloy, our amazing guide. His knowledge, generosity, humour and energy were limitless. Not only did he make sure we got as much from the experience as we possibly could, he also shared his personal advice and friendships with us. Back in Cuzco he introduced us to his friend Seladonia, we had a wonderful meal a her restaurant, and we were invited back to Seladonia’s Mesa for her son’s birthday!

Louise & Husband
Travelled January 2017 
Tour: Elements of the Inca Empire – Lake Titicaca and Machu Picchu Tour

Our Patagonia tour was excellent. Herve from your local tour operator in Argentina was very accommodating in creating the tailor-made tour we asked for. The family homestay in Corralito (near Bariloche) was the highlight, and I wished we could have been on the farm longer to actually contribute while also acquiring a bit of Spanish. Marta and her family were fantastic! Warm, welcoming, funny and understanding. Ushuaia and El Calafate were great too. Hotels, activities and guides were good throughout.

Susan & Partner
Travelled November 2016 
Destination: Patagonia in Argentina

We had a wonderful time on a custom built honeymoon created by your local tour operator in Peru. The team listened to what we wanted and made it happen. They gave great, personalised suggestions and the guides went out of their way to make sure we enjoyed ourselves.

Ysy & Stefan
Travelled April 2016 
Tour: Elements of the Inca Empire – Lake Titicaca and Machu Picchu Tour

Between 2012 and 2017 we acted as tour operator. The below testimonials are from travellers who booked directly with us. We operated their tours with the same network of local tour operators / travel agents we work today.

Community-based tourism is not a simple matter. In my experience, the goal of a balanced cultural exchange can easily be destroyed by too much emphasis on the tourist dollar, or by the local culture being too weak or uninteresting. Here in the Calchaquies valley they have got it about right, with strong local characters bringing energy and passion to the task. They were asking me almost as many questions as I did of them.

Kevin Rushby, The Guardian travel writer
Tour: Rural Argentina Experience
Read his article Homestays in Argentina: how ethical holidays are protecting a way of life
Watch his audio slideshow Traditional music in Argentina’s wild north west

We did indeed have a fantastic time in Chile, and Nico was an excellent guide. Overall, a fantastic experience!

The students had some great feedback. Overall, they enjoyed a very well-rounded experience and adored our guide! They did express that a little more down time would have been nice, and would have liked more time with their host families. I have appreciated your prompt replies and assistance through this whole process; please know that we will continue to recommend Sumak Travel when others inquire of our trips and we will certainly be in contact again if our student travel takes us to Latin America!

Thank you so much!

Student group from the University of Florida
Travelled January 2018
Tour: Chilean Andes and Chiloé Island Tour

Overall, a really good holiday which worked very well for all of us and we are all quite different! The hotel in Santa Marta was lovely and the staff really helpful with things like taxis. Bruno and Wilson took us to Minca and the coffee plantation, which we were very pleased to have done. The ecohabs in Tayrona National Park were great, it helped to relax in the sun and just a lovely experience. Two nights was ideal.

The most unforgettable bit was the trek which was excellent, amazing experience walking in the jungle, being with Wiwa people, learning about their world view, gradually, lots of respect. Wiwa Tours was very good but Spanish speaking only, so it was good to be in a larger group and with Bruno who translated. He was an enormous support, kept his boundaries but was also a real boon to the larger group. It’s wonderful that the access to Cuidad Perdida is limited in numbers and to those who trek.

Cartagena was a lovely place and the hotel was nice and very well sited. It felt good to be able to walk around the old town and find it with ease.

Thanks again, truly memorable for all of us.

Julie, Susan, Anne, Angus & John
Travelled December 2017 
Tour: The Lost City Trek plus Santa Marta and Cartagena in Colombia

We had a wonderful time, we loved Colombia, especially the people – they were the nicest, friendliest people we have come across. Everywhere was so different and so interesting. I was very glad I could speak some Spanish – as English is not widely spoken. The agency in Colombia were amazing – they checked with us all time and the few little problems we had were sorted out immediately. You handled our brief very well again, with a nice mix of standard accommodation and more up-market. We are sold on South America! So will definitely be going back, need to do some work first! Thanks for all your help – I recommend you to everyone!

Jette & Ashley
Travelled October 2017 
Tour: Criollo Colombia Tour with an extension to the Caribbean Coast

Safely back from what was a truly memorable, fulfilling Argentine adventure. We can’t thank you (and your team) enough for the way you put this complex itinerary together – and then delivered it in a very professional manner. This was first rate from beginning to end.

There are so many highlights, but we must mention in particular the family home-stay with Zulema of the Red Cultura Rural Patagonica. We had great fun together and learnt a lot. It was a very moving, worthwhile experience, and we found great generosity of spirit there, typified by the surprise birthday cake for Franco.

In short, very happy to recommend you (have already done so). And we’re thinking… Costa Rica next.

Jean and Franco
Travelled March 2017 
Tour: Elements of the Journey to the End of the World 

We want to say thank you for organising such a wonderful trip. This trip was exceptional and we have so enjoyed it.

Easter Island surpassed our expectations. The hotel was lovely, and the staff so friendly, and very keen to teach us Rapa Nui! Vanessa was a fantastic guide. She realised we liked to know about the culture, and whilst we visited all the Moai sites, she took a lot of time showing us local sites. I had lots of fun practicing Spanish as little English was spoken, but we got by and made friends along the way. Rob can even speak a few words in Rapa Nui!

Thanks again for organise such a relaxing yet exciting trip – we will be in touch again next time we visit South America

Jane and Rob
Travelled March 2017 
Tour: Elements of The Easter Island Adventure

We absolutely had the time of our lives! All the outings made a huge impression on us – spectacular scenery, delicious food and always, welcoming people. I just can not tell you enough how superb our trip was and how grateful we are to you for organizing and to all the staff for making sure we were taken care of. We can not say it enough how happy we were with the level of service and attention to detail in making this dream trip perfect!!!

The weaving lesson and visit to Hulloic with Awakami was fantastic! I loved learning how to weave and the bracelets my husband and I made are treasures we will always cherish. The women of the cooperative were welcoming, kind and gracious. The lunch was delicious. I considered myself very lucky to have been able to experience the culture as we were fully integrated into it. My favorite part of the trip had to be our visit to the Andean school and village of Ccorccor. During the school visit, we were moved by the welcome we received by the president of the village and the students of the school.

We hope to go back some day to not only Peru but other places in South America and you can count on us booking these holidays through your company! We will also highly recommend you to everyone!

Thank you, for all that you did!

Kimberly & Greg
Travelled March 2017 
Tour: Elements of The Inca Empire-Lake Titicaca & Machu Picchu Tour

Overall I had a really rewarding experience thanks to the combination of activities, excellent local tour guides/interpreters, comfortable accommodation and good food. The guides were exceptional with great insights, safe driving and a desire for us to get maximum enjoyment out of our tour.

This package is different and supports the local community whilst giving an enjoyable and memorable insight into the wonders of the Atacama. My thanks to everyone involved for providing me with such a wonderful experience with fond and lasting memories.

Kenneth
Travelled February 2017 
Tour: Atacama Desert Tour

Our trip to Costa Rica was adventurous, informative, and perfectly tailored to our interests in sustainability and environmental preservation. Our guide, Jose, was excellent – he clearly loves his line of work and has taken it upon himself to become extremely well versed in the local culture, history, flora and fauna.

Our trip was a wonderful mixture of outdoor adventures (horseback riding near the Arenal Volcano, trekking through the rainforest, bird watching at dawn to spot colorful toucans), local culture and cuisine (city tour, pub crawl, delicious farm-to-table Costa Rican cuisine, and coffee tasting in San Jose), and interacting with the local communities. Our stay at an organic farm was restful and peaceful, and we enjoyed the ultimate “slow food” experience – drinking pineapple juice from a just-picked fruit and even learning how to make our own hot chocolate from cacao growing on the farm. The rural homestay that Sumak planned for us with the Juanilama community was a delightful cultural immersion and learning experience.

The Sumak Travel staff are professional, attentive to detail, and will go the extra mile to ensure your trip is everything you’d imagined it would be. We also love that Sumak Travel trips are carefully engineered to ensure fair wages for all involved, minimal environmental impact, and an equitable exchange between locals and travelers. Highly recommend!

Hannah, Kasi, & Simone, from the Ethical Influencer Network Bloggers
Travelled December 2016
Tour: Elements of the Natural Costa Rica Tour
Read the series of blog posts about the trip, part of the Happy Travellers category

We visited Tunja and found it interesting, Nobsa to buy ruanas and Sogamoso to learn about the Muiscas. The drive there was beautiful and interesting. We felt this was real Colombia. The hike at the Paramo de Oceta and visit to Mongui was our favourite of all the things we did in this area. We hiked in the open and had great views of the foothills of the Andes. The Paramo was interesting and the plants and stone formations that we saw were fascinating. At Lago de Tota, everything was well organised. We did a boat trip and drove around the lake.

In the Amazon, we enjoyed Puerto Narino village a lot. It was great just to wander through the village in the morning and watch the natives bring in their food for the market or watching the children play in the afternoon. The activities we did were all very nice. We all enjoyed them – especially the ones in San Martin, fishing for Piranas, spotting pink dolphins, jungle walk, visiting with an ‘abuela’, seeing the painted houses close to Calanoa lodge at Mocagua. The food was very good; fresh juices, fruits and salads. We mainly had fish, rice and plantains and this was always delicious and really fresh. The Amazon was the big finale and highlight for us all.

We had a very good time and the service provided through you and your agents was excellent and as we had our own private guides, we got to experience so many things that would not have been possible, had we tried to travel on our own or in a larger group of people.

I hope to be able to visit other parts of Colombia in the future and would use your services again. Many thanks for a memorable trip.

Tove, Reiner, Ole & Victoria
Travelled December 2016
Tour: Elements of Chicamocha Canyon & Colonial Colombia Adventure tour plus the Amazon Rainforest

We enjoyed a great trip arranged by Sumak and all the people involved. Bogota was great, we wished we had stayed another day there, just looking around the old town. Catalina was fantastic and gave us a great introduction to the history of the country. Villa de Leyva, is a great place. Absolutely loved the Centre for Palaeontology. The guide that takes you through the details of how Colombia was formed and its history. Fantastic – Highly recommend. Barichara was great, the hike into the canyon fantastic. Seeing the coffee, tobacco, banana trees, etc. was really nice. The day in San Gil was fantastic, particularly the waterfall.

We really liked the cycling days, they were not too tough for us. The people in Colombia in our experience are fantastic, very helpful, not pushy and go out of their way to help. Beautiful countryside, stunning scenery, great food. We would still like to go back to the coffee region and Manizales, Medellin and Cartagena.

Kevin & Catherine
Travelled December 2016
Tour: Chicamocha Canyon & Colonial Colombia Adventure tour

Our trip was flawless, and hugely enjoyable, possibly one of the best we have ever experienced. We loved Colombia and its people, the itinerary Sumak managed to put together at short notice was exactly what we were hoping for, and everyone we had contact with was friendly, professional, and efficient, the tempo perfect, accommodations well located and comfortable, and the experiences memorable.

In short, we had a fabulous time and bring home fantastic memories, can’t thank you guys enough. Obviously we have only tasted the surface of this amazing country and can’t wait to return. But we can’t imagine how the itinerary we enjoyed could be improved upon for a first experience of Colombia in the time available, and would whole-heartedly recommend it to anyone. Again, our sincere thanks and gratitude to everyone involved.

Bettina & John
Travelled December 2016
Tour: Elements of the Chicamocha Canyon & Colonial Colombia Adventure tour, plus the Caribbean Coast and Medellin

Thank you Sumak for the wonderful trip you created. The itinerary you planned offered an ideal range of experiences. The hotel selections (and restaurant recommendations) were lovely and authentic. Our airport and hotel transfers went flawlessly. The activities (tours, hikes, expeditions) were delightfully interesting and energizing. Your suggestions of how to best prepare for the Lost City trek were very valuable. And, last but not least, the guides were excellent – very knowledgeable and kind. In particular, we mention Maria (Cartagena), Alejandro (Bogota), Sergio (Amazon) and Bruno (Lost City).

Your guidance, and the oversight of the in-country team, provided the framework for one of our favourite trips of all time. Without question, we will recommend you highly. Thank you so very much!

Connie & Richard
Travelled December 2016
Tour: The Undiscovered Colombia Adventure

Thank you Sumak! You created an excellent trip for my family, and I truly appreciate your attention to detail, your follow through and the uniqueness of the experience. Our highlights of the trip were: walking along the glaciers, seeing penguins and canoeing in Patagonia, Staying with a host family in Bariloche, enjoying fantastic wine, tango lessons and city tour through Buenos Aires and the outside neighbourhoods. When I travel through Latin America I will contact you again!

Jackie, Nancy, Richard, Anthony, Gary & Kevin
Travelled October 2016
Tour: Elements of the Journey to the End of the World – Patagonia tour, plus Buenos Aires

We are now back home but still floating on the high of our holiday! Words cannot fully express the majesty of Colombia – the warmth of its people, the forever-changing landscapes, the awesomeness of its pre-Columbian sites, the amazing variety of its flora and fauna. We cannot praise all the holiday arrangements you and Sumak arranged enough. Everything went to plan and everywhere we went we were welcomed with open arms and wonderful smiles. There are so many highlights that it is almost impossible to select a few, but we will try:

* Sitting on the balcony at Ecohabs, Minca overlooking the tree canopy and seeing three vultures, two toucans and a myriad of other birds, all sharing the same tree to dry out after a torrential downpour

* Spending two unforgettable days exploring San Agustin’s anthropomorphic statues and the wonderful countryside surrounding them, one of the most important ancient sites on the planet!

* Crossing the other-worldly 12,000ft Paramos, the ‘Lungs of the Earth’, to reach the sacred pre-Colombian site of Tierradentro, nestling in a green valley, surrounded by Andean peaks.

* Watching the full moon rise majestically over the horizon of the Tatacoa Desert

* Visiting Gabriel Rodriguez’ Museo Artesanal at Casa Totumo in Villavieja, a very simple place, where he creates everything; furniture, musical instruments, pictures and jewellery from the wood and fruits of the Totumo tree. So far he has taught 40 local children, who had previously been absorbed into the drug culture, his unique skills. They must commit to staying for four months, but at the end of that time, they can take away what they have made. Gabriel does all this without any payment.

* Walking up the Cocora Valley in Salento, surrounded by 60 meter wax palms and crossing and re-crossing the tumbling river on rope bridges, slightly scary at first but then brilliantly bouncy!

A number of friends were really interested to hear we were visiting Colombia and wanted to to know all about it, when we came back. Without reservation, we will tell them how amazing the country and its people are and recommend your company extremely highly.

Thank you again for making it a journey of a lifetime.

Ann & Geoff
Travelled September 2016
Tours: Elements of the Criollo Colombia Tour, plus San Agustin, Tierradentro and the Caribbean Coast

We loved Colombia. The people, the colour, the countryside were all spectacular. The organisation at Sumak couldn’t have been better. It was so easy and relaxing knowing everything was thought through and perfectly organised. We liked all the guides. The hotel choices were excellent too. Our favourite part was Barichara and the hike to the Juan Curi waterfalls. We enjoyed the Amazon but found the mosquitos and rain a bit tough! Thanks for helping to put together a truly amazing holiday. We are so grateful.

Clare, Rose, Grace & John
Travelled August 2016
Tours: Chicamocha Canyon and Colonial Colombia Adventure, plus the Amazon Rainforest

We had 2 separate tours with Sumak during our 2-month South America trips and they were absolutely fantastic. Our community-based ecotours at the Atacama desert and Bolivia were eye-opening. We experienced the local cultures which was not the typical tourist activities. We were happy for the unique experience and that not many tourists went to where we were; but on the other hand we reckon this type of ecotourism should be promoted more for other people to know. It is definitely the tourism of choice for people who love unique and personal travel experience.

Given our positive experience for our first trip with Sumak we used them again for Colombia. Felipe has been fantastic at organising our trips, even on short notice for our tailored trip to Colombia. He is accommodating, efficient and very prompt at replying emails. Our trips and the transfers all went smoothly. It certainly has taken the stress off organising trips while travelling in South America with patchy internet. Felipe and the tour agents checked constantly during the trips to make sure there was no issues. The tour guides were professional, sensible, knowledgeable and always look out for us.

Thank you Felipe and Sumak! We definitely will go with you guys again for future South America trips. Wished you do other continents as well!

Wai Mee, Rachel, Robyn & Su Yin
Travelled June 2016
Tours: Atacama Desert Tour, Essential Bolivia Tour, elements of Criollo Colombia Tour, plus San Agustin & Tierradentro

I had such an unforgettable trip with Sumak. Not only was I able to visit breathtaking landscapes and natural areas, but I was able to spend time with the locals and understand their traditions, customs, and their current realities (a priceless experience), and I was able to meet so many wonderful other travellers along the way. I traveled for a month and every aspect of the tour was perfectly planned out in the itinerary and flawlessly executed. I never had to worry about anything nor scramble to make my next connection, the food was incredible, and I was very comfortable in all the lodgings. Sumak did a fantastic job of ensuring an incredible vacation for me, and I am so grateful that I chose their company to travel with. I would love to do another!!

Rosetta
Travelled June 2016
Tours: Atacama Desert Tour, Essential Bolivia Tour, The Inca Empire Tour

We have had an amazing holiday! All of the arrangements you made for us went very smoothly and nearly everything was just as we’d expected it to be, if not better. Our favourite part of the holiday by far was the homestay. The people we met there were so welcoming and we really valued the opportunity to spend time with them. If we were to do this trip to again, we’d extend our stay there. The travel difficulties we experienced over the last few days, due to bad weather, were made easier because we knew that you and your team were there to help out too.

Some of our time at Sao Paulo airport was spent looking at your website for inspiration for our next trip. I am sure it won’t be long before we are contacting you again for another great holiday!

Heather & Nick
Travelled April 2016
Tours: Elements of the Buenos Aires, Iguazu Falls and Rural Argentina Tour, plus Mendoza & Santiago

Our trip was absolutely wonderful and we had an incredible time in both Argentina and Chile. The level of service and attention to detail while developing our tour through to our experience on the ground was second to none. We have so many highlights and can only speak very highly of our guides and drivers. Everywhere we stayed – hotels, b&b’s and hostels – were all very comfortable and we received a warm welcome. Breakfasts were always good – El Calafate and Pucon breakfasts were exceptional. The packed lunches and evening meals in Torres del Paine were of a very high standard. We enjoyed our stay in every location, however, we felt that the service could have been better at the ecolodge we stayed at in San Pedro. All of the tours whether private or with a small group were amazing. There were a couple of changes and cancellations due to bad weather but that did not diminish our enjoyment at all. When our luggage went missing between flights the support team went out of their way to help us and ensured our luggage was delivered to our hotel as a priority within a few ours.

Our trip was incredible and we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. We met some wonderful people along the way and have fantastic memories of two beautiful countries. We were looked after throughout and for that we are extremely grateful. In fact we are already talking about the possibility of another trip in the not too distant future.

Karen & Barry
Travelled March 2016
Tours: Incredible Argentina and Chile Adventure

We had a wonderful time, thanks to all the arrangements you and others made for us, and we would certainly recommend Sumak to other like-minded travellers.

We were impressed with the care taken and with the enthusiasm and knowledge of our guides who gave of their time and did not seem to mind that we sometimes overran the “timetabled” events because we were either so full of questions or the guide thought of something else to show us! We enjoyed their company and hope they did ours! Accommodation was on the whole ideal and everywhere we stayed had an ensuite. We were just a little disappointed with the place we stayed at in La Serena, our first choice not being available.

The excursions from San Pedro were excellent, with plenty of dramatic scenery, wildlife, some amazing walks, and ways were found to avoid the mass of backpackers we might have encountered. The meetings and meals with indigenous peoples gave us an insight into local life that few tourists are privileged to have and we are very pleased to have been able to support some of the local communities. I hope that this style of tourism, which you and the guides we met all believe in, will flourish and grow in the future and will help to preserve the cultures and lands of Chile.

The contrast between the Atacama Desert and Easter Island was of course huge, and after the intense heat of San Pedro, the sea breezes of Hanga Roa were welcome. The Mana Nui Inn was a lovely spot to stay on Easter Island and our guide, who seemed to know practically everyone on the island, showed us so much and taught us a lot about Maois. The seafood and fish were amazing! We felt so relaxed after 7 nights on the island that it was hard to return to the “big city” for a couple of nights!

So thank you again and good luck with all your future projects!

If you don’t want only to lie on a beach or stay in a five-star hotel in South America but instead meet the locals and learn about where you are, here are the people to organise it all for you. I’ve just spent four weeks on a tailor-made trip for two in Chile and Easter Island and the buzz will stay with me for the rest of the year. You get comfortable, friendly accommodation (even with family atmosphere if that’s what you want), guides who are endlessly accommodating with your requests and questions and generous with their time; and, of course, advice on where to go, what to see and what and where to eat! There’s even someone at the other end of a phone calling to see if you’re OK or fixing things that may have slipped a bit. Go on, take off with these sustainable-travel minded people and have the time of your life at any time of your life!

Ruth & Gabriele
Travelled March 2016
Tours: The Easter Island Adventure & Mystical Chile Tour 

We had a wonderful time! Nico, who led our day trip to Valparaíso, was superb. He gave us excellent advice and recommendations for our subsequent travel to Atacama (not with Sumak). The whale watching trip from Punta Arenas was utterly superb in every way. It was expertly run, and we had a professional, humorous, highly knowledgeable and keen to share guide. The same is true of the Canal Fun people in Ushuaia. In fact all of these excursions mentioned above were top quality events run by brilliant people, also with great food. We won’t forget them! Beyond that, the transfers and accommodation were fine, though packed lunch provision and quality were very variable.

All in all, the whole Sumak experience ran smoothly with only very minor blips and a range of really brilliant excursions run by top people. We wish we had been organised enough early enough to have used Sumak in Atacama as well. We are very pleased we saw that article in the Guardian about Colombia and followed it up!

Louise & Simon
Travelled March 2016
Tour: Journey to the End of the World – Patagonia Tour

It was a fantastic holiday with a lot of great memories that we will treasure for a life time. We visited both Brazil and Argentina, two very different but fantastic countries packed with great experiences: from experiencing the vibrant cities of Rio and Buenos Aires, to the breathtaking nature in El Calafate, Ushuaia and the waterfalls in Iguazu National Park. The guides were fantastic and very helpful and are a great assets to the company.

In terms of recommendations for other travellers, we would suggest trying to book at least 3 full days in the cities and Mendoza and at least 2 full days in El Calafate. One day at the Argentinian side of Iguazu Falls is ideal, and only a few hours on the Brazilian side is sufficient. We would also recommend spending a bit more on hotels in Ushuaia and Iguazu Falls as the standard varies.

Overall, we have come home with some wonderful memories and I would not hesitate to recommend Sumak Travel to a friend.

Linda & Peter
Travelled March 2016
Tours: Elements of the Journey to the End of the World – Patagonia Tour, Buenos Aires, Iguazu Falls and Rural Argentina Tour, as well as Rio de Janeiro.

Overall we had a wonderful trip and our guides were generally excellent, being very patient, caring and knowledgable. The accommodation and activities were very good overall, with the only 1 stand out disappointment being the tree house where we were very dissatisfied with the level of service and amount of time we were made to wait.

These are just a couple of the highlights:

• The bicycle tour in Bogota was brilliant, and our guide Margarita was a joy. She was enthusiastic, took account of our skills and wishes, and we had amazing fun.
• The Calanoa Lodge is just wonderful! We had a fantastic room, the staff were so friendly, and we enjoyed the activities, even visiting the local people because we now knew what to expect.
• We had a fantastic tour of the gold museum and Botero Museum, where the guide had such a passion and knowledge on both.

Your support and organisation has been fantastic, and we will be happy to book with you again, and recommend you to our friends.

Jane & Robin
Travelled March 2016
Tour: Undiscovered Colombia Adventure

We had a great time in Colombia, thank you. All the arrangements were organised very well, and every transfer arrived before our pick up time so we were never left wondering if the taxi would come. Some of the hotels were really excellent, and we were impressed with the enthusiasm of the guides that took us cycling and showed us round the coffee plantation. The only thing I would perhaps suggest for future travellers to Colombia are some restaurant recommendations in Bogota!

We hope to travel with you again. Your help in putting our itinerary together, and making all the arrangements was very good and appreciated by us. Incidentally, I found Colombia to be a very safe destination, even walking round Bogota in the evening to and from the restaurants.

Caroline & Simon
Travelled February 2016
Tours: Elements of the Criollo Colombia Tour and San Andres & Providencia

It is difficult to imagine a trip as well planned across such a broad spectrum of culture and landscape as our adventure in Chile proved to be.

My father and I immensely enjoyed our trip. Our guides were first rate, knowledgeable and personable. Their desire to share their thoughts and feelings enhanced our experience immeasurably particularly when we had the gift of meeting with indigenous families. There were so many highlights! Although the landscapes in Patagonia and the Atacama Desert are hard to compete with, our interactions with our guides allowed us to feel even more connected with this beautiful country. We absolutely loved visiting the Mapuche community and would highly recommend this visit to future travellers. We had wonderful conversations (thanks to Nico’s translations) and will treasure this memory for a lifetime. Similarly, participating in the llama caravan created a wonderful balance to excursions to the geysers and salt fields. If we knew what we know now, we would stay in the same hotels, but we would recommend going with a different company in Atacama for the day trips.

We will definitely work with your company again in future! Thank you again for creating memories that will last us a lifetime! .

Erin & Edward
Travelled February 2016
Tours: Torres del Paine & Atacama Desert Tour

We had an amazing time, really the trip of a lifetime; it’s just a shame that our own timeline didn’t give us more time in the country.

Our drivers were very nice, kind and both attempted to cover the language barrier between us. The only issue we came across was when we were travelling on the boat across to Ilha Grande, we kind of had to wing it. But, we figured it out in the end by asking the locals on the pier, and had an excellent smooth trip over the water. The pousadas were beautiful! Everyone was kind and greeted you with a smile. They were always clean and the breakfasts served were delicious. There was a slight confusion with the pousada in Paraty, but that may well have been a language barrier with the person on reception that day. Our tours were excellent! The history tour in Paraty was definitely a highlight as we got such an insight into the country, the history, the town and the way of life. I couldn’t recommend that enough to anyone else!!

Thank you so so much for all your hard work and dedication for helping us pull together such an amazing week when we were on a budget and wanting to experience as much as possible. I will highly recommend your company to anyone who is visiting Brazil! .

Ginni & Tom
Travelled February 2016
Tours: Elements of Sao Paulo, Paraty & Rio de Janeiro Tour

The holiday was everything we hoped it would be and more – truly a trip of a lifetime. We had such a fantastic time. Thanks so much to you and your team in London and Colombia for organising it. We were really impressed with how smoothly everything went and how lovely, helpful and informative all the people who looked after us during the three weeks were. We loved the country and it felt like a great time to have visited. We feel that thanks to you, we made the absolute most of our time there and have come back to grey London with some wonderful memories.

Daisy & Charles
Travelled February 2016
Tour: Undiscovered Colombia Adventure

We heard about Sumak Travel through a travel article in The Times and were immediately drawn to the journalists’ description of ethical, off-the beaten track travel in Colombia. Having travelled extensively and independently over the years, we were initially reluctant to book a trip through a travel company. However, Sumak were very open and flexible to our ideas and helped create a customised itinerary for us based on the countries and activities that were important to us, bearing in mind our budget. We chose Peru, Bolivia & Chile as the focus of our 10 weeks.

Through Sumaks’ network of local ethical travel companies, we had some fantastic cultural experiences and home stays, the highlight of which was our trip to Lake Titicaca where we stayed with 2 different families on Taquile Island and Luquina Penninsula. We chose to have a private guide for many of our excursions, which was well worth the extra expense as it meant we had a very personalised experience. The quality of the guides, whether for a cultural tour of an Inca ruin or for the 5 day Salkantay Trek was consistently excellent, with engaging and incredibly knowledgeable guides.

As a company, Sumak were proactive, engaging and most importantly, genuinely interested in providing an outstanding level of personalised customer service; we would recommend Sumak with no hesitation.

Niamh & Marten
Travelled Winter 2016
Tours: Tailor-made tour including elements of: The Inca Empire – Lake Titicaca and Machu Picchu Tour, The Atacama Desert Tour and the Essential Bolivia Tour

The wonders of Patagonia, both Torres del Paine in Chile and the Glaciers national park in Argentina, were magnificent and the most memorable part of our journey. I also fulfilled a childhood dream of seeing the Iguazu Falls from both sides and managed to fly over them in a helicopter and experience them up close in a Rib boat. I would recommend also making time to visit the Itaipu Dam on the Brazilian side…and bringing headphones / earplugs for some of the long transfers which can be noisy and slightly uncomfortable!

Overall our holiday was excellent and I felt that it also benefitted local people, as tourism is critical to both Patagonia and Iguazu. It employs many local people and is the bedrock of the local economies. Sumak Travel did a wonderful job of pulling together an itinerary that worked. Felipe was very patient with me and managed to accommodate most of my crazy plans. It has given us a taste for South America and have been discussing with Sumak out next trip already.

Shirley & Roland
Travelled January 2016
Tours: Tailor-made tour including elements of: Buenos Aires, Iguazu Falls and Rural Argentina Tour & Journey to the End of the World Patagonia Tour

The holiday was a great adventure. Overall I enjoyed the trip and being in the jungle was a fascinating experience – the animal life, the sounds at night and the day, rough camping in the Amazon, the flora and fauna in Caño Cristales, and the physical trek to the Lost City with the indigenous villages was a very rewarding experience.

Thanks for all your work in organising this.

Nick
Travelled December 2015
Tour: Undiscovered Colombia Adventure

We thoroughly enjoyed our two weeks in Costa Rica with such a varied and interesting itinerary – it is a lovely country with such relaxed and welcoming people.

The ground arrangements worked perfectly and we cannot speak too highly of Jose Pablo, our guide. What a lovely, friendly young man. Nothing was too much trouble, and throughout he was accommodating and considerate of my disability. He proved to be observant and knowledgeable with regard to wildlife/botany and was equipped with binos/telescope to ensure we enjoyed the best opportunities for viewing. We found the Actuar accommodations and the Gomez’s farm to be the highlights of the trip. The following will stay in our ‘memory bank’ for many years to come: 1) The visit to the Bribri community; the canoe trip to get there, the village itself and its people; 2) Our visits to Casa Calateas, Finca Sura and Los Campesino were all wonderful. Our hosts all made us so welcome and we learnt much from them all. Waking up at dawn to the sounds of wildlife is something we shall not forget; 3) Macaw Lodge was wonderful – what a beautiful place; 4) The final hotel, Plaza Yara , was luxurious and very comfortable.

Overall we had a wonderful and memorable holiday. The tour was well thought out and we were able to experience a flavour of Costa Rica and its people.

Helen and John
Travelled November 2015
Tour: Natural Costa Rica

We had an amazing time – we loved Argentina – what a country! And 3 days in Rio at the end was really fun. Thank you for organising such a great tour – we enjoyed all aspects of our trip.

Overall the hotels we stayed in were fantastic, with lovely staff, and the guides were lovely and really helpful. I would definitely recommend the dolphin excursion – this was fantastic and a real highlight of our trip! El Calafate was also great and we really enjoyed the Glacier tour. The 3 days in the Calchaqui Valley were fantastic – it was an amazing experience and a real highlight. Edgar was brilliant – he’s a fantastic guide and so knowledgeable – the families were lovely and so hospitable. We loved the riding in Corralito, a real experience. Estancia San Agustin was beautiful and Carlos and La Negra were great hosts – we felt like royalty staying there! He took us to a local horse show with all the gauchos in their traditional dress on beautiful Peruvian Paso horses – it was fantastic to see – we road on these horses too which was just great. Of course Iguazu Falls is quite incredible and Rio too was amazing. Pedro who did our transfers was lovely and really helpful and the tour around the Santa Marta Favela was also really interesting and our guide, also Pedro, was a little star!

So all in all a fab trip – I would recommend it to anyone!

Jette and Ashley
Travelled November 2015
Tours: Buenos Aires, Iguazu Falls and Rural Argentina Tour, Journey to the End of the World Patagonia Tour & Rio de Janeiro

After organising a memorable trip to Costa Rica, we thought it would be difficult for Sumak to surpass that, but we were wrong.

Our three week honeymoon in Peru and Colombia was quite simply the most amazing experience we have ever had. From the moment we stepped on (yes on, they organised the flights for us too) the plane we were in dreamland. Hotels like palaces, excursions that made us feel like (Mr & Mrs) I. Jones, and luxurious relaxation that made us feel like royalty. All of the guides were brilliant, lovely people, really interesting and friendly and each of them made the whole trip very special, and it was often very hard/sad to say goodbye.

We are already looking forward to next year’s adventure…Bolivia and Venezuela perhaps?

Gemma and Andrew
Travelled October 2015
Tours: The Inca Empire – Lake Titicaca and Machu Picchu Tour and The Undiscovered Colombia Adventure

We travelled with Sumak Travel to Colombia and had a great time. The entire holiday went like clockwork. We did a lot of moving around, every 1-2 days and also took part in a 4-day jungle trek. All requests that we made were fulfilled, all our pick ups/transfers were on time, the accommodation was lovely and the guides were great with excellent English. I asked a lot of questions before the holiday and they were prompt and professional with every single one.

I would recommend Sumak Travel and definitely use them again. It’s a pity they don’t operate in South East Asia!

Laura and Alexander
Travelled October 2015
Tour: Undiscovered Colombia Adventure

It was an amazing trip – thank you SO much for putting it together for us. I think I loved Bolivia the best; stunning landscapes, Lake Titicaca and Sun Island and of course, the incredible salt flats, but really everything was fantastic.

All of the guides were excellent, particularly Juan in Bolivia, Gonzalo in San Pedro, Nico in Santiago and Ludo in Easter Island. Juan of Travolution was also very helpful. The driver in Santiago was also excellent and always on time and friendly. The situation of the two guest houses on Sun Island was very beautiful. We all loved the dancing on Sun Island, the geysers in Bolivia, those incredible lagoons and the amazing flamingos. Wildo’s tour was very good with an excellent lunch and walking with the llamas was fun and a lovely way to watch the sun going down. I won’t mention all the tours, but I particularly liked the canyon walk in the cactus valley and walking down the dunes – Gonzalo, our guide, was so good. I found the accommodation basic but most were comfortable and clean. Hostal Miskanty was nice, especially because of Marta who was so kind and helpful and made lovely cake for breakfast! The Mana Nui Inn on Easter Island was great as well.

There were so many wonderful things to see and experience every day. It really was a brilliant trip!

Written by Maat, travelled with Ann, Sarah and Marie-Clare
Travelled October 2015
Tours: Essential Bolivia Tour, Atacama Desert Tour and The Easter Island Adventure

We had a fabulous trip. We saw so much, we did so much and met some wonderful people. The itinerary was busy and we may have changed a couple of things in retrospect, but overall it was excellent so thank you for putting it all together.

Bolivia was a revelation. Although a poor country it has a rich and living culture. All the guides without exception were wonderful and passionate about their countries and the places we visited. Juan Luis in Bolivia was full of energy and happy to talk about Bolivia’s turbulent history and current state of affairs. On Isla del Sol Veronica and her helpers of the Challa community made us very welcome. They even had us up and dancing after dinner! We ran into Juan Luis again at Uyuni which was great because he took us on again as tour guide and showed us things we may have missed. We were joined by two Dutch girls in our car who were great fun and Simeon, who was our driver, looked after us very well. The Salt flats were amazing and a real highlight.

Gonzalo, our guide in San Pedro, was excellent and took good care of us and recommended some excellent restaurants. We weren’t sure what to expect for the stargazing visit but because there was a moon it was difficult to see many stars (nobody’s fault). I liked Valparaiso more than the others, I think. We had a walk around visited Pablo Neruda’s house and Nico, our guide, was also very interesting on modern Chile. We could have had more time but we had a delightful al fresco lunch in a fine restaurant overlooking the bay. Finally on to Easter Island. The warm welcoming weather soon turned into tropical downpours but that didn’t stop us or our wonderful local guide, Ludo. We went everywhere and saw everything and heard all the stories. Ludo even sang to us. We all got on really well and enjoyed our cabins overlooking the rather stormy sea.

Written by Ann, travelled with Maat, Sarah and Marie-Clare
Travelled October 2015
Tours: Essential Bolivia Tour, Atacama Desert Tour and The Easter Island Adventure

Sumak provided an excellent service – we were looked after every step of the way and nothing was too much trouble.

The Atacama desert was one of the most exciting and memorable parts of our trip. We particularly enjoyed the private tours with our guide Gonzalo where every day was different and the scenery absolutely stunning. The accommodation was simple but adequate and our hosts extremely friendly. We felt that the holiday really benefited local people. For example, it was great to lunch in local villagers’ kitchens and contribute to the maintenance of their lifestyle. This is particularly important that these villages receive a share of the tourist cake as most of these small villages are dying and need to be revived.

Overall, it really was a tremendous holiday with some wonderful memories we would highly recommend this holiday to friends.

Penny and Richard
Travelled October 2015
Tours: Mystical Chile: Atacama, Huasco, Santiago & Valparaiso

I travelled with my family to Colombia last summer (2015). We like to plan our trips ourselves and the team at Sumak Travel were amazing. They worked with us, suggested improvements to our location choices and made us feel it was never any trouble to keep changing things.

On holiday everything worked as promised. The hotels Sumak suggested were good, the transfers on time and the cars good quality. All the interpreters and guides had good English and knew their stuff. The local representative was also amazing, always available and knowledgeable and nothing was too much trouble for him to find out or arrange. His English was also perfect. At one point towards the end of the holiday I was ill and Sumak were fantastic at arranging changes to our schedule, rebooking hotels and sourcing doctors for me to go to. I even got a call from the English office to find out how I was feeling! On our return they prepared letters for our insurance company and continued to support us when asked.

Honestly, I have not had a better experience with a tour company in 40 years of travelling.

Sara, Joe, Jacob, Benjamin and Alexander
Travelled August 2015
Tour: Undiscovered Colombia Adventure

Overall, a FANTASTIC trip. We were able to see a lot in a short amount of time. In Buenos Aires, La Boca was great! We enjoyed meeting the local artist, and the community organisation was fabulous – it was wonderful having lunch with them! The tango/milonga activity was a lot of fun too. We were grateful for our siesta time beforehand and happy to have Herve with us as he was a great guide! The Iguazu Falls were beautiful and we enjoyed the combination of the boat tour and hiking. In Salta, our guide Edgar was great – it was evident that he has strong relationships with the families in the tourism cooperative and we really enjoyed our time with them. They were a huge blessing to our group and went out of their way to make us feel welcome and share their homes and culture with us. The time we spent with them making tamales and empanadas, and the dinners was so wonderful. Thank you for all of your work in organising the trip for our students! We will keep you in mind as we get a new group of students at the start of the new year and begin planning our next adventure.

Group of Students of Sciences of Life, University of Florida
Travelled August 2015
Tours:  Buenos Aires, Iguazu Falls & Rural Argentina Tour

We all had an amazing time in Colombia. I don’t really know where to start except to thank you for your enormous contribution in making it such a memorable adventure. The hotels were all of an exceptional standard and perfect for our needs. We especially loved the Posada San Antonio in Villa de Leyva and Hotel Alfiz in Cartagena. All the guides were great, friendly and knowledgeable, and went out of their way to accommodate us. I would strongly endorse Andres in Villa de Leyva and Alex in Barichara in particular. Apart from the airport closure in Bucaramanga, everything went smoothly. We were really impressed with everybody’s timekeeping and always felt secure and in safe hands. Jose was always there when we needed him and I’d be obliged if you could convey our gratitude to him. I rarely feel the need to compliment an airline but Avianca were super efficient at all times and remarkably calm during the crisis. I thank you again for the wonderful service Sumak provides.”

Ardal, Melanie, Rebecca, Redmond, Emily
Travelled July 2015
Tours: Chicamocha Canyon & Colonial Colombia Adventure and Undiscovered Colombia Adventure

The tour was a fantastic way to get an introduction to Colombia. We were particularly impressed by the coffee region tour. Our guide, Veronica, was excellent – so helpful, friendly and professional. The horse riding activity and coffee tour were particularly enjoyable and the standard of car transport during this part of the trip was of a very high. We also found the tour of the amazon region fascinating and all the staff we encountered were friendly and helpful. Overall, the activities were varied and interesting and the pickups were on time and well organised. This really took the strain out of travelling! The Sumak team was extremely helpful and professional in the lead up to the trip and I couldn’t have asked for more in terms of communication and information. We will certainly recommend Sumak to friends and family.

Rebecca and Rory
Travelled July 2015
Tour: Criollo Colombia Tour

We had a great time in Colombia – Bogota, where we had an excellent city tour, Cartagena, the Ciudad Perdida which we enjoyed despite the tough trek to get there. In Ecuador we found the Galapagos Islands stunning. We were very happy with your arrangements for our hotels, flights and transfers etc. We would be happy to recommend Sumak Travel to other travellers and of course would think of you should we be going back to South America.

Catherine and John
Travelled April 2015
Tours: Undiscovered Colombia Adventure and Natural Selection Tour – Galapagos Islands

What a trip! Thank you and the team on the ground for making all the arrangements for the trip so effortless for us. We had one of the best trips of our lives! We enjoyed all of it but the great surprise of the trip was the parque condor in Otavalo where they rescue and breed birds of prey. What a spectacular show of these magnificent birds in flight!!! The Cachalote is an old charmer, must have been very handsome in its younger days! It was very well run and had a very competent crew; the food was good and healthy and they took care of our gluten free diet well. We were also very fortunate that we had great company in the other passengers. All were physically fit, curious and up to our daily excursions. The highlight was the naturalist guide, Juan Tapia. He was an encyclopedia of the islands, plants, marine and land animals, and all the birds. And he was just a well rounded worldly person that is fun to spend time with.

Cynthia and James
Travelled April 2015
Tour: Natural Selection Tour – Galapagos Islands & the Mainland

The tour of Colombia provided some fantastic memories – seeing the Amazon in flood, visiting the Ciudad Perdida, and generally experiencing the diverse tapestry of landscape, people and cultures. The trip took me off the beaten track at times and although it was sometimes challenging as a result, the added authenticity made it all the more worthwhile.
Furthermore I was glad to see that local indigenous people were often the ones benefitting economically from our trip and the tour was certainly respectful of the environment too.
I had a magical time and wouldn’t hesitate to recommend this tour, but bear in mind that learning a little Spanish will make the experience even richer.

Weng
Travelled April 2015
Tour: Undiscovered Colombia Adventure
Read a full review on responsibletravel.com

We had an amazing time in this great country. The details of our trip were flawlessly executed and we found your recommendations very helpful. We thoroughly enjoyed everything from the time in Cartagena to the trek, beautiful Palomino Beach and Coralina Island. Each had their own charm and we have many warm memories, pictures and have made new friends. We can see why Colombia has been named a top travel destination! We enjoyed the local guides, particularly our guide on the Lost City trek who was extremely knowledgeable and proud of his heritage. We loved the Palomino Beach region and found our accommodation at Casalina nicely appointed and the meals excellent (and well priced).

Debora and Stuart
Travelled April 2015
Tour: Undiscovered Colombia Adventure

We had an amazing time on our trip and couldn’t believe how much we were able to do and see in 2 weeks, without feeling like we were travelling all the time.

The 3 city hotels were all fabulous, getting better as the trip went along. The final Cartagena hotel was absolutely stunning, beautiful place to end the holiday. Bogota was perfect – beautiful building and loved the district, bit less hectic than the city centre. We loved the Amazon trip, so amazing to get out into the wild and sleep in the Maloka, the jungle, up at tree etc and our local guide, Martin, was just brilliant. We really felt we’d got off the beaten track and the highlight was probably the dolphins on the 4th evening! Santa Marta was fascinating, lovely place and hotel beautiful as well. The Lost City – what can I say?! Brilliant. Manuel and Sergio were fantastic guides and Sergio was really curious and spoke brilliant English. We were lucky enough to have a great group of 8 of us and everyone got on well. Wiwa Tours is such a positive concept and loved that we weren’t with the masses and had separate camps that were smaller and so much nicer and more welcoming. Palomino was lovely destination for after the trek and it was an easy half hour walk along the beach to the town. There were nice beach bars near the accommodation. I would say the accommodation was basic rather than rustic, however very quiet and private and gorgeous views!

We’ve been raving about Sumak Travel and our holiday ever since we got back – we usually do this kind of travel independently but you have most certainly proved the value of using professionals such as yourselves because it was so smooth and so easy, whilst getting the true travel adventure – thank you.

Tracy and Duncan
Travelled March 2015
Tour: Undiscovered Colombia Adventure

The great thing about the holiday was the opportunity to stay with local people in their houses, we probably had the best food there too! The vegetables were fantastic- picked at 5pm to be eaten at 8pm.

The visit to the Iguazu Falls was amazing, as they are simply spectacular and the visit is very well organised. You have access through a series of pathways right to the heart of the falls, providing thousands of photo opportunities. The trip overall was very good and we all enjoyed it.

Nick, Lorraine, Richard and Richard
Travelled February 2015
Tours:  Buenos Aires, Iguazu Falls & Rural Argentina Tour
Read full review on responsibletravel.com

I traveled solo on a self-made tour to Costa Rica covering both Carribean and Pacific coasts as well as a stop in Arenal. As a single woman traveling alone, I was hoping to have the rare opportunity to travel local and safely. It was a fantastic experience. The tour guides, drivers, and hotel operators were universally good to work with. I packed a lot in only 8 days. Sumak worked with me to provide all I requested. Changes to the plan were clearly communicated and alternates were quickly arranged with the local tour operator.
It was a true community based, sustainable travel experience, catered to my particular requests for small locales with more tican (Costa Rican) culture. I recommend Sumak travel highly!

Pura Vida!

Kristan
Travelled February 2015
Tour: Natural Costa Rica

Myself and a couple of friends recently (February 2015) spent 2 weeks travelling in Colombia, after having read an article in The Guardian about Sumak Travel. I spoke extensively with Felipe at Sumak Travel and together we worked out an itinerary to suit myself and my friends, including a 5 day trek to La Cuidad Perdida, the so called Lost City of Teyuna. This turned out to be the highlight, and was a simply wonderful experience, not least due to our Wiwa guide, as I was keen to choose a trek lead by one of the Indigenous communities from that area of the Sierra Nevada. It was their use of the Indigenous guides that drew me first to Sumak Travel.

The whole holiday went very smoothly, especially all our overland transfers, with transport arriving on time and friendly helpful drivers. I was also very impressed at the local ground staff within Colombia, as although we did not need city guides (preferring just to amble by ourselves!) they were always on hand via the telephone and indeed called us at times to check if everything was going okay, well beyond my expectation!

Felipe and Raffaela at Sumak Travel were equally helpful, always willing to discuss details of our trip and put together new variations.

My thanks to everyone concerned, the care and attention we received throughout was brilliant!

Alison
Travelled February 2015
Tour: Undiscovered Colombia Adventure

The booking process was very professional and informative – in all Sumak Travel made it a very enjoyable holiday. I’ve had some wonderful memories and would highly recommend Sumak Travel for South American Holidays to a friend.

Helen and Jason
Travelled January 2015
Tour: Undiscovered Colombia Adventure
Read full review on responsibletravel.com

The organisation of the tour to Chile and Bolivia by Sumak Travel was GREAT! Everything was very well organised and nothing failed. The guides were good as well as the programme that was very well prepared between me and the company. The landscape was wonderful and I recommend to all the people that like big spaces, trekking and emotions. We did some tours with local population that was not very usualy between other tourists. We could learn a lot about people of Atacama Desert. Maximum classification: 10/10.

Helena, Sara, Maria and Herlander
Travelled November 2014
Tours: Atacama Desert with Uyuni Slat Flats extension and Torres del Paine (Chilean Patagonia)
Read full review on responsibletravel.com

We travelled to Colombia with Sumak Travel on a tailor made itinerary including coast, countryside, culture and a trek to the Lost City. The schedule was very busy, as we crammed in a great deal into 2 weeks, but the careful planning allowed us to do all we wanted and the whole experience exceeded our expectations. We were certainly well looked after, the operation was very professional – the local agent phoned each day to check all was ok, the guides rang the night before to confirm arrangements for the following day. All transport, drivers, guides, and accommodation were excellent. The country itself was spectacular, with a great diversity of scenery and culture to experience. The trek to the Lost City was an unforgettable experience and certainly any discomfort re rain. mud etc was outweighed by the fantastic scenery and the privilege of spending time with the Wiwa people.
I would certainly recommend Sumak Travel for any trip to South America and I would put Colombia top.

Judith, Meena, Shirley and Kathryn
Travelled November 2014
Tours: Undiscovered Colombia Adventure and Chicamocha Canyon and Colonial Colombia Adventure
Read full review on responsibletravel.com

Sumak Travel organised an amazing trip for me in Chile, incorporating all the visits I requested and more. I spent a wonderful holiday learning a little of the Mapuche culture, visiting the homes of the Nobel prize-winning poet Pablo Neruda, seeing stunning archaeological sites, rock paintings and spectacular scenery, with desert, geysers and beautiful Valparaiso. The emphasis on caring for the environment was impressive. Thanks to the organisation, the accommodation (hotels, guest houses and the delightfully hospitable village house in San Pedro de Atacama), the friendly people and especially the guides, I had a superb time.

Jenny
Travelled November 2014
Tour: Atacama Desert, with the addition of La Serena and Valle del Elqui
Read full review on responsibletravel.com

We certainly mixed with everyone locally, even without homestays! We had meals in peoples homes and exchanged contact details, shared ,talked about our lives and experiences, hopes and dreams. We have brought back many stories to tell and hope we left a lot there. We donated to local projects and discussed impacts of previous actions and read everything there was on the changes, entering debates in the bars and taxis ! At museums and galleries, local students and staff asked us to speak ‘english’ to them. We sang football chants at a service station, with the supporters, waved the flag, they got on the bus, we returned to the limousine !!! They had the better team. We followed local customs and have brought back a sense of ‘we should do more’. The holiday was amazing, really great. So varied, we felt so lucky to be met at every airport or bus station by friendly experienced and interested guides. We were taken to their homes, to meet family and friends, to have coffee, to share in their lives and interests and to be guided into their part of the country. We had plenty of time to be “alone” ! And felt safe experiencing the towns and cities. We can’t wait to go back…

Heather and Paul
Travelled October 2014
Tours: Essential Bolivia, Atacama Desert, Rural Argentina, Iguazu Falls and Buenos Aires, and Sao Paulo, Paraty and Rio de Janeiro
Read full review on responsibletravel.com

Accept the invitation and leave to a trip around the world without crossing borders. Iguazu Waterfalls – Puerto Madryn – Bariloche – El Calafate – Ushuaia – Buenos Aires. These are the trip stopovers, Argentina has everything: snow, mountains, beach, lakes and plains. Here everything is big: the 3m long of the open wings of the condor (the biggest flying bird in the world), the whirlpool of the 1.5 million litres of water per second of the 275 waterfalls, the rivers which look like seas, the endless plains of Patagonia, the 30km of glaciers of Perito Moreno. Nature acquires different proportions for a European. Argentina is like a continent; it is equivalent to visiting 7-8 countries in the Old Continent. This makes us ask: what is there from Europe? There we can find the mist of the Swiss lakes, the French streets, the Italian pasta and seasoning, the Spanish La Movida, the snows from the Alps… After all, many Europeans have left towards America. Europa is in her blood and her soul is in Nature.

Joana and Nuno
Travelled October 2014
Tour: Journey to the End of the World – Patagonia Tour, with an Iguazu Falls extension

A heartfelt thank to Sumak Travel and Felipe for making sure we had a truly incredible time in Bolivia, Chile and Argentina. We really enjoyed every minute of our time in beautiful South America and felt so welcomed and well looked in all of the countries we visited. We feel so blessed to have met such terrific guides Pablo in Bolivia, Pamela/Juan in Chile and Edgar in Argentina and all the kind warm-hearted people who have all made our holiday very special.

We loved seeing the incredible, spectacular and breathtaking landscapes, the mountains, the volcanoes, the salt flats, the desert, the geysers, the magnificent waterfalls and awesome views/architecture of the cities. It is hard to believe that we saw some of the most beautiful sights in the world. It was amazing to hear about the history and culture of South America, sample the sumptuous food (even learn how to make some!), take part in the beautiful, diverse music, meet wonderful people during the home-stays, and dance the tango. All this brought us closer to the people and their traditions, inspiring ways of life and experiences! We will never forget this incredible adventure and it will really be in our hearts forever.  We thank everyone in all the countries we visited making this a trip of a lifetime for us.

Mala and Anna
Travelled August 2014
Tours: Essential Bolivia, Atacama Desert and Rural Argentina Experience
Read full review on responsibletravel.com

Sumak Travel organised a two week trip to Costa Rica for us in June this year, and it was fantastic. They worked with us to plan the perfect trip, with activity days being interspersed with days off so that we could do our own thing. We were amazed at how well everything went, buses always ran on time and the tour guides were all amazing.

Costa Rica is an incredible country, and we could learn a lot from them about how to look after the environment. The diversity of wildlife pays testament to this approach, and we were treated to close up moments with caiman, scarlet macaws, toucans, crocodiles and a bright yellow eyelash snake…to name but a few.

We were so pleased with the service and value that Sumak provided that we have asked them to curate our honeymoon…you can’t get a better testimonial than that!

Pura Vida!

Gemma and Andrew
Travelled June 2014
Tour: Natural Costa Rica

We spent 52 days in South America on a trip completely organised by Sumak travel and we loved every minute of it. It was our first time there but we still wanted to do something different, and not just the usual tourist things, therefore we integrated some home stays and community-based activities in our trip, which were the definite highlights of our journey.

We loved Chile, especially our stay with a Mapuche family in Curarrehue – the food and landscapes were amazing … We crossed the Andes twice by bus, to and from Argentina, and I can say it was beautiful both times. Argentina was also very interesting and we fell in love with Cafayate and the surrounding areas, where we even decided to venture on a horse ride in a canyon whilst staying at a ranch – it looked like a film set, it was simply stunning – and our guide, Edgar, was such a funny guy! … Bolivia, and the Uyuni desert in particular, was something out of this world, but we think that our home stay at Isla del Sol, on Lake Titikaka, deserves a particular mention – we felt like going back in time for centuries, and we were lucky enough to be the only foreigners in the little Challa community… The Peruvian side of Lake Titikaka was also very pretty, especially little Amantani island, but we absolutely adored Cuzco and surroundings, which was also the starting point of the most strenuous but probably the most interesting part of our journey – the Salkantay trail – at the end of which we had the chance to spend some time in a little organic coffee plantation, surrounded by avocado and mango trees, where we even prepared our own coffee from scratch…

Whilst in bigger cities it was nice to have a hotel in a central location, we loved to be able to spend some times with the locals in rural areas, sharing their homes for a bit and making a difference in a more direct way … we witnessed the improvements that this form of softer tourism is bringing into their lives without turning them upside down and we were happy to be part of it. We were deeply touched by their kindness and the authenticity of their simple way of life, and these will be the most lasting memories of our journey.

We had a few hiccups here and there, which is absolutely normal in such a long trip, but we were extremely happy with the way the trip was organised – accommodation, activities (sometimes in small groups, but mostly on our own), local guides, even vegan food … besides Felipe, who was always only a click away, in each country we visited, we had a different contact person to talk to in case of unexpected problems, and they were very quick at rectifying any glitch we encountered.

All we can say is that it was a truly incredible trip – and one to be remembered for many years to come!

Isabella and Ernst
Travelled March 2014
Tours: Chiloé and Chilean Andes, Incredible Argentina and Chile Adventure, Essential Bolivia and The Inca Empire
Check out their amazing travel blog

Here are a few observations from our trip to Brazil, which overall was fabulous – fun, beautiful, really nice people and a good learning experience for both of us. Rio is the most beautiful city I have visited, and I have done a lot of travelling! We loved where we stayed and our guide was top-notch. Also the Favela was colourful and we met many interesting people. We loved Paraty where we hiked the Gold Trail and learned about the history. Festa do Bonfim in Bahia was a highlight, and I would like to visit again. We danced and marched the entire five miles and Bahan even drummed with the band Mali, which we loved. Thanks for everything.

DeAnn and Bahan
Travelled January 2014
Tours: Sao Paulo, Paraty & Rio de Janeiro and Fascinating Shores of Brazil Tour

I want to thank you for making our trip so brilliant. It was such an amazing experience being able to share the lives of some amazing people. The communities made us feel so welcome and I’ve come back itching to go see them all again! The people were lovely, the food was amazing, the country was beautiful, the horses are unbelievable, I can’t fault any of it, so thanks again for making it all possible.

Amy and Emily
Travelled January 2014
Tours: Rural Argentina Experience (including estancia stay)

This is a tremendous format for a holiday if people want to learn about the local people as well as see the tourist sites. The visit to the Atacama Desert area, including the high Andes, was special for me, and spending time with the indigenous farmers was really interesting.

Dave
Travelled January 2014
Tours: Atacama Desert Tour and The Easter Island Adventure

In Easter Island we had a very good guide who took us to other places outside of the itinerary, which we really appreciated. Moreover, since she was local, we were able to learn so many fascinating things about her culture and people.

Bettina and John
Travelled December 2013
Tours: Atacama Desert Tour and The Easter Island Adventure

We had a fantastic holiday and the attention to detail was amazing – not having to worry about transfers and on line check-ins made life so easy. The mixture of big sights (Iguazu Falls and the glaciers) and visits to the small farms was just right. And the mixture of places to stay made it more varied and interesting!

Nuala, Robin, Ciara, John, Ronan and Rory
Travelled December 2013
Tours: Journey to the End of the World – Patagonia Tour and Buenos Aires, Iguazu Falls & Rural Argentina Tour

The holiday was in general excellent. Both of us loved Chiloe. The people were wonderful, both those we stayed with and those we met. The place we stayed was great – you could just walk out along the beach in either direction for miles. We shared their New Years Eve meal which was lovely (and beautifully cooked!). Another highlight was trekking through the araucaria forests on the slopes of a snow capped volcano – stunning. I know it’s hard to wean people away from the desert and Patagonia, both of which are great – but people don’t know what they are missing! We enjoyed spending several nights in different locations and not rushing around every other day, and having the flexibility about exactly what we did. Also, the night buses were very comfortable!

Sheila and Gillian
Travelled December 2013
Tours: Torres del Paine, Chilean Andes & Chiloe Tour and Mystical Chile Tour

My experiences in Chile were once-in-a-lifetime. Apart from the majestic views of the Andes or the rich culture in the Atacama, staying in homestays allowed me to share these moments with the local community. What I saw felt very genuine as I was travelling outside this hotel/hostel tourist bubble that prevails in these remote places. Knowing that I was also contributing to the future of the community just made the trip more worthwhile. It also held in store a lot of amusing surprises for me – mainly the misunderstanding of what an ‘Ancestral Caravan’ meant. Less of a caravan ride around the desert, more of a bonding walk with a Llama family!

Alessia N.
Travelled November 2013
Tour: Atacama Desert

Our trip was fantastic, everything seemed to run smoothly in terms of flights, car pick-ups and all the excursions. The highlights for us were probably the whale watching and glacier walking, but it is difficult to pinpoint individual things as it was all a wonderful experience. We also thoroughly enjoyed staying with the families as it offers a unique experience and one wholly different to hotels.

Chris and Hannah
Travelled November 2013
Tours: Journey to the End of the World – Patagonia Tour and Rural Argentina Experience

What a brilliant introduction to Colombia! The guides were amazing – enthusiastic, knowledgeable and thoughtful, and obviously love sharing their passion for the country. Everything was so well organised and because it was only the two of us on the tours it was really personal too.

Jane
Travelled October 2013
Tour: Criollo Colombia Tour

“We were so lucky to come across MAMBE. Staying with an authentic indigenous community in the Amazon and being able to share and learn from them was already something I thought I would never do, but then just a few days later travelling to the Pacific and being surrounded by whales was just ridiculous (We went in July). Thank you Mambe for a surreal and very down to earth experience. We’ll definitely be back with more friends for more Colombian Love”

Tom Y.
Travelled August 2013
Tour: Intrepid Colombia

It was fascinating to be guided by Juan, someone that not only knows the culture, but was part of it, and felt so passionate about everything he was sharing with us. I was so proud to be able to bring my friends from other parts of the world and to see them amazed by the vast cultural and geographical diversity of Colombia

Catalina R.
Travelled July 2013
Tour: Intrepid Colombia

The whole trip was memorable and exciting, but if we had to choose a highlight we would say the journey across the Andes was the best road trip ever! Other highlights were the vibrancy of Buenos Aires, the spectacular Iguazu Falls and the endless beauty of the Argentinean landscapes… It was a privilege to stay with local families, to learn about economic schemes and not to be blinkered by commercial tourism. It is good to know that the families benefit financially from our stay. All our guides pointed out conservation concerns and encouraged us to support and be aware of environmental issues.

Pal and Jerry
Travelled June 2013
Tour: Incredible Argentina & Chile Adventure

My experience in Salta with Red de Turismo Campesino was marvellous. Apart from the majestic views of the Calchaqui Valleys, I must say that the ‘home stays experience’ allowed me to have a much richer exchange with the host families in terms of learning from the campesinos daily life as well as interacting with the local community. What I found most interesting was to learn the origins and foundations of this community initiative as they use tourism as a tool to achieve collective benefits while maintaining their identity and passing their knowledge to future generations. In El Divisadero, I was hosted by Teresa Gutierrez and together with her I had the best company, an 8-year-old boy (Teresa’s grandson) who explained to me the local flora and fauna and took be to the best panoramic sites so I could appreciate the best views of the Valley. Additionally, I had the opportunity to learn and to taste homemade wines produced by Miguel Terraza (wines called Solin Terraza) whose mistela production is absolutely fantastic. I also stayed in Corralito and had the pleasure to be hosted by Soledad and her family, who is a ceramic crafter as well as an active leader in favor of peasant organizations, family farming and rural women’s rights. I love travelling and albeit I have been in Salta few times before, this has been, so far, one of the best travel experiences of my life. Thanks to Sumak Travel for a very unique and unforgettable experience. I’ll definitely be back and will also spread the word amongst all the people I know because such places and experiences are definitely worthwhile.

Marina D.
Travelled April 2013
Tour: Rural Argentina Experience

Our eco-adventure helped us to experience a versatile side of Argentina, that we otherwise might have missed if we had booked a more traditional STA travel type tour. Our tour allowed us to absorb the hustle and bustle of two amazing cities, as well as sitting back and appreciating a more rural, humble way of life. We had the perfect blend of adventure, culture, relaxation and fun. Sumak Travel also offered the right level of organised activities and free days to experience the country for ourselves. I feel Sumak Travel offers flexibility, which would suit a variety of peoples needs i.e.: if you would want support simply with flights and accommodation only or if you desired a more detailed package type itinerary. We really want to thank-you for your detailed expertise and efforts. Thank-you for helping us discover a less commercialised tour and pointing us into the direction that other travellers would not have had the opportunity to experience. You set up a truly unforgettable journey for us. We had the time of our lives!

Habibah A. and Nicholas W.V
Travelled April 2013
Tours: Buenos Aires, Iguazu Falls and Rural Argentina Experience and Rio de Janeiro

We had a fantastic time. I didn’t know what to expect when we went and some of the trails were hard work but I can’t get over how incredible the locals are! This was my first experience of community based tourism and I honestly believe it is the future of travelling.

Joseph D., Emma and George
Travelled March 2013
Tours: Atacama Desert and Chilean Andes and Chiloe

I won’t lie, we had no idea of what to expect from Colombia, we had already travelled overland all the way from Argentina, and had heard many contrasting stories. But a friend of us recommended checking out Mambe travel (thanks Dan!!!). We thought we had done quite well by travelling off the beaten track, but Mambe’s version off the beaten track gave a new significance to the expression.  There were machetes, big boats, small boats, hammocks, canoes, but in the end we made it to our destination, a beautiful and untouched part of the jungle (inhabited by the San Martin community) where no other traveller from the big tourist community we met in Leticia had made it. Plus we got to see pink dolphins and sloths. Thanks for an unforgettable experience.  Ps. watch out for the piranhas”.

Uli P.
Travelled January 2013
Tour: Intrepid Colombia

Travel broadens the mind! Broadening the mind and thinking up new ways of doing things is something we all need more of as our global society faces up to the environmental, social and economic challenges of the 21st century. It is refreshing to discover Sumak Travel as truly authentic and original sustainable tour operator, developed by people who are deeply passionate and knowledgeable about the places they operate in. It is exciting to be working in partnerships with Sumak and I look forward to seeing them set the bar for others in the travel industry.

James Sutton
Founder of The Bloomtrigger Project

Sumak Travel’s commitment to building travel itineraries out of grass roots community based tourism initiatives is exactly what this industry needs more of. Exactly the kind of people we set up to spread the word about so delighted to be working together towards a common goal!

Alex Narracott
Founder of Much Better Adventures

Sumak Travel has been a great partner for us and the local communities that are part of our network. Tourism operation is at the core of our beliefs and sustainability of each community entrepreneurship. Thus, the devotion and compromise that Sumak shows for our initiatives, is something we are very grateful. Besides, not all tour operators are transparent in their relation with both clients and providers, and that is a unique quality of Sumak”.

Juan Marambio
Global coordinator of the Global Community-based Tourism Network

Sumak Travel is pioneering the future of the global cultural industry – and economies at large: where local communities around the world are no longer mere objects for cultural and economic profiteering, but custodians and investors in their own heritage”.

Wahome Muchiri
Co-founder of WOW Society

As a member of the Ethical Tour Operators Group, Sumak Travel plays a vital role in ensuring that tourism always benefits the local communities. A recent addition to the group they have shown dedication and great enthusiasm and I look forward to working with them in the future.

Mark Watson
Executive Director of Tourism Concern

Finally an organisation that connects all the best community tourism in Latin America!

Ben Keene
Founder of Tribewanted