We had a wonderful trip in Mexico. The ancient Mayan sites is fantastic. The travel guide is very good. The hotels were good except Cancun. I don’t care for this hotel facility, but it is not too bad let our kids have this kind of hotel experience.

Debbie

I hope this email finds you happy and well. I am so sorry, I have been meaning to call you for so long to give you feedback on the trip to Central and South America late last year, but as John Lennon once said ‘Life’s what happens while you’re busy making other plans’. My heartfelt apologies.

Overall, due to your wonderful expertise, the trip was fantastic. Thanks for your troubles, and needless to say, we’ll be in touch when we’re ready to hit Latin America again.

Domit from Australia

Everything went very smoothly on our private tour, many thanks. We were able to see many different regions and aspects of Mexico making it a simply fascinating experience. We had a great time in Mexico City and Taxko (sadly Puebla was flooded and had to be taken out of the itinerary), and were able to take in the Aztek culture and Spanish colonial architecture. Then in the north, Copper Canyon (bigger than the Grand Canyon in the US) and the amazing train journey. The trip at the end to Baja California we managed to see the grey whales and the Yucatan and beautiful Maya ruins. The exposure to these very different areas in a short time made this a truly memorable journey.

Reinhard, German clients

I returned home safe and sound on Sunday. Thank you very much for organizing a most successful overland trip through Central America. I am thinking seriously about a third overland trip through South America in the next year or so. Thank you again for arranging a very successful and most enjoyable itinerary. I will contact you again in the next couple of months about similar trips through South America and the Caribbean.

Kind regards

Frank

I LOVE Mexico city – what a vibrant , beautiful city. I ate some of the best Mexican food I have ever had! I loved our driver Israel and our guide Pepe was also great. It really made me happy that he seemed happier at the zoo than me. They both always wanted to make sure that we were happy. Pepe seemed really upset for us that we could not get to see the Diego Rivera murals because of all the striking in the Zocalo- we tried to go a second time, but the guards kept pushing the time it would open back, so we left. So you heard about El Rosario, wow I had never seen rain/flooding like that. We made it to the top of the mountain after going through 2 wipe outs in the road only to find the bridge collapsed to the reserve.

Cerro Pellon was AMAZING – barely any tourists and got to stay with the monarchs as long as we wanted- we saw millions – it was so incredible, one of the most beautiful things I have ever seen!!! We then went to the little village at the bottom of the mountain and went to a little restaurant for lunch – it was just a perfect day. Pepe had never been to Cerro Pellon, only the other reserves, but he stated it was the closest he had ever gotten to them and for the longest. I loved the rancho San Cayetano – the owners made you feel right at home, the food and room was great and they had a lot of videos about the butterflies to watch- it is a place I would want to go even without the butterflies!!!! If you get a chance go to Cerro Pellon.

Puebla was also a trip highlight- the highways were closed because of flooding so it took about 4 hours each way, but we never felt rushed to leave. They let us shop and look around. I also had one of the best mole meals of my life (it is my favorite flavors of Mexican food). I was just so impressed with how much Israel and Pepe made sure we were having a good time and also made sure we got to do what we wanted- they really went out of their way to show us a good time. Yeah the flooding was a bummer and I am really mad at the Marriott, but overall I had an amazing time and would tell anyone to do it.

Thanks again Jose. Sarah and I are talking about going to Morgan’s Rock Ecolodge for my 40th birthday next Feb so i will be in touch later in the year about that!

Cheryl, traveled several times with Yampu

We got home last night late – We enjoyed our trip and Odra was wonderful. I will write you more
specifically about what I did and did not enjoy this week. Trying to do a bit of catch up with work today.
Thanks for all your help. It was fun!

Esther

We had a fantastic time! The itinerary was perfect. I’d thoroughly recommend Yagul. Although it’s less well known, and less visited (apart from the archeologists we were the only people there), it’s on the way to Mitla and is very picturesque – and has the second largest ball court in Mesoamerica!

Zoe
UK Client

We arrived home on Sunday 5 July after a fantastic 2 weeks in Mexico

The first week’s tour you arranged for us went like a dream. All the Hotels were excellent and our guide was spot on – very informative and flexible in terms of our requirements. What can be said about the sites we visited, they all had something different and special associated with them. For example we visited Chichen Itza first thing in the morning – it was cooler, almost devoid of other people and a wonderful experience.

Thank you for arranging such an exceptionally good tour – we will definitely be back to use you again

Ian
Dauntsey, Wiltshire, UK

Firstly apologies for my delay in replying to your very prompt email. On the whole we had a great time in Mexico. The start was a bit shaky with the media and WHO hyping up the level of crisis re Swine Flu, every other day it seemed. Any way we survived and have no symptoms whatsoever.

Most of the organization was excellent and the local tour offices and guides efficient whilst having to cope with difficult and daily changing conditions. In Oaxaca the guide was fantastic. Alberto was knowledgeable and highly motivated to share his enthusiasm. Hotels were good, especially Oaxaca and Merida. My apologies for bothering Claudia in US once or twice but couldn’t get through to local offices to check flight changes etc. She was brilliant.

Anyway thank you for putting together an excellent package and the little problems were entirely outside your control. The wedding went well despite a few people understandably chickening out and we were upgraded to a better hotel and room so that was a bonus.

Helen and David
Cambridge, UK Clients
Traveled through Mexico during the swine flu crisis

We loved the beach resort (Shangri La Caribe) in Playa del Carmen. As far as we could tell it was by far the nicest place along that part of the coast. The rest of the trip also went well, except Palenque where I got sick and never made it to the ruins. We also loved San Cristobal del Las Casas and could have spent much more time there. All the other hotels were fine. Overall, a very good trip from my perspective.

Ed from Takoma, MD

Thank you for your email, and I apologize for the late response. First I would like to thank Kontiki (or Yampu Tours) for making our trip to Mexico so smooth. You all did a wonderful job. We will definitely be contacting Yampu tours for our trip next year to Central America.

Ghadeer

We had a wonderful time, thank you! We loved Mexico City and the City tour. Teotihuacan, Uxmal, & Kabah were amazing. By the time we went to Chichen Itza we were a little tired of archaeological sites! But, I was glad to see them. Cancun was very touristy. We did go down to Playa Del Carmen and had a wonderful time there. I would recommend anyone to visit Playa Del Carmen. Great beaches and fantastic nightlife! All in all we had a very pleasant time. We both agreed we would go back to Playa Del Carmen since it’s only 2 hours from Miami. Thank you for all your help!

Tonya

Vacation went faster than light and am back to work :( Mexico was lush enjoyed Mexico city, Merida and Tulum. Did not like Cancun (not my scene way) but my other mates liked Cancun.

Mexico City was very different than what I expected it to be which was good and I enjoyed it very much. The best bit was the Xchimilco boat ride I would recommend it as you get to see how the Mexicans spend their Sundays and family life was brilliant. Chichen Itza was ok was expecting it to be huge but quite a small pyramid compared to the other ones we saw in Mexico city and Uxmal- Merida.

Merida was lush loved the tiny numbered streets and the people were very nice and the hotel Estellano was lush with lovely staff. Tulum the beach was astounding hardly any people and was nice relaxing 5 days. The hotel was ok in Tulum very basic no TV etc completely cut out from the world…......otherwise I loved Tulum would definitely go there again.

Preena
UK Client

I write to thank you for arranging the WONDERFUL trip that we took to Central America over our Christmas holidays. We visited the Mayan Ruins at Uxmal, Chichen Itza, Tikal and Copan. All were fascinating, and different in their own way. We learned a great deal, and met some very nice people along the way. Every single guide and driver that you arranged were great. And we enjoyed the hotels that you selected. Thanks again to Angela who went to extra effort to make our airline reservation schedule work.

Client from Charlottesville, VA

I would like to thank you so much for organising this holiday for us. The archaeological and architectural and natural sights were fabulous and we saw some really interesting things that like a chicken being sacrificed in one of the churches!!! While we were on holiday we needed to call the emergency number a few times and we found everyone extremely helpful and would like to thank those who helped us. All the hotels in the old centres of the towns were fabulous and interesting and had lots of character and we loved the hotel that you found for us in Tulum.
Best wishes

Jo
UK client