Expedition Cruises & Wilderness Adventures

Accommodations Review

The vessel "World Explorer" was an unbelievable ship. It felt like a high end hotel and the service staff made sure everything was "just right".

Meals Review

I am a picky eater so if I didn't like the menu for the day there were plenty of standard choices available. I think I gained a few pounds on the trip.

Itinerary Review

[We most enjoyed]...the education along the way presented by experts, the zodiac landings and other extracurricular activities such as kayaking. All went well and were things I never thought I would experience. I felt very safe and in good hands with a very professional and experienced expedition team.

Crew & Guides Review

This was one aspect that made the trip such a great adventure. The expedition team and ship crew were clearly qualified, competent and had a passion for this type of exploration.

AdventureSmith Explorations Review

Our representative, Justin Massoni, did a great job of making sure we had everything we needed to prepare for the trip. There were no surprises or disappointments. Everything worked out perfectly.

Traveler Advice

Follow the literature provided to bring the right gear, relax and enjoy.

Meals Review

The food on the Delfin I was 5 star all the way.  They even prepared our piranha that we caught and it was delicious! 

Crew & Guides Review

Every transfer, driver and guide was professional, reliable and couldn't have been better.  Each became a friend and were flexible enough to accommodate our desires during the day.  Couldn't say enough about all of these. 

AdventureSmith Explorations Review

Our AdventureSmith Specialist was available always by email, phone to answer questions and the suggested packing lists were extremely helpful and really we had 3 different climates to pack for; coastal/urban in Lima, tropical jungle in Iquitos and cooler highlands in Cusco and we found that we had packed well thanks to the advice of AdventureSmith.

Accommodations Review

The hotels in Quito and Cuenca were very nice - particularly the one in Cuenca, which like many hotels there is a converted home of some wealthy resident. The accommodations on La Pinta were roomier than I had expected, with a large bed, big window and a bathroom with excellent water pressure and plentiful hot water. The boat, with 41 tourists on board, was just the right size.

Meals Review

The meals we had on our own on the mainland were good, particularly the breakfasts in Quito. On the boat, we enjoyed the meals very much, though breakfast and lunch buffets were clearly the highlight and the sit-down dinners were less impressive. We also had salmon our first night on the boat that could have been fresher. However, the lunches more than made up for the minor glitches.

Crew & Guides Review

All of our guides/naturalists on La Pinta were good. They were very knowledgeable, friendly and enthusiastic. In Quito, we had a good guide, notwithstanding she had a limited palette of locations to work with. Our guide in Cuenca was excellent too. All guides and naturalists were very proficient in English, though when we were off the boat, we tried speaking Spanish as often as we could.

The arrangements were perfect. Not a glitch in the entire nearly two weeks. I was so pleased that drivers and guides were always there when they were supposed to be there and made us feel like we were in good hands.

AdventureSmith Explorations Review

Andrew was great. That's why I'm planning a trip to Peru through him. Information was provided in a very clear and relatively concise manner. We kept the trip instructions close at hand, particularly when on the mainland. The only thing I did on my own without instructions to prepare for the trip was to visit the Mayo Clinic's travel clinic, where they made sure certain vaccinations were up to date and prescribed Diamox for altitude sickness in case I had an issue, as well as something for stomach upset (which was really not an issue).

I am just very happy to have found AdventureSmith. The agency and agent, Andrew, were recommended by friends of ours who were on the same boat as we were some years ago. I am looking forward to working with Andrew and AdventureSmith again when my younger daughter and I travel to Machu Picchu. I have already mentioned AdventureSmith to several people.

Traveler Advice

Just that they should do their homework to get the most out of the trip, bring the proper clothes (we traveled very light but were just fine), and check in with a doctor to make sure you don't spend days dealing with altitude sickness or have some other issue (after visiting the doctor, we bought DEET mosquito repellent which was not necessary all that often, but we are glad we did). I took Diamox and my wife (who did not take any meds) had just one day on arrival in Quito when she had a splitting headache, but then we both hiked for a couple hours at nearly 13,000 feet and we were both fine. I will definitely make sure my daughter and I have Diamox before we land in Cusco.

Accommodations Review

The room and boat were even better than we thought they'd be. The rooms were comfortable and spacious - the balconies were amazing. It was definitely the best looking boat we saw in our travels. It was worth what we paid for it. A small boat is a must and the Elite was excellent. 

Meals Review

All the meals were excellent and the service was exceptional.

Itinerary Review

Overall this was the trip of a lifetime and we wouldn't change anything about it. We participated in all the activities that were offered and thoroughly enjoyed all of them.
We were able to experience everything we'd hoped for.

Transportation Review

Being in a foreign airport can be difficult, but the arrangements made for this trip were great. When we were leaving Quito, we were greeted by one of your representatives as soon as we walked in the door of the airport. He guided us through until we got to security. A guide met us when we landed and was with us until we boarded our boat. When we were leaving, another guide was at the airport with our boarding passes, so that leg of the trip was seamless also.

Crew & Guides Review

We had two guides on our two combined trips - Carlos and Enrique. They were both very knowledgeable and excited about all that we saw, even though they've probably seen everything before. They were both very professional but very approachable and friendly.

Accommodations Review

The Mandarin hotel prior and the National Geographic Orion were exactly as I expected and met all our needs.

Meals Review

The meals on the ship were consistently incredible. The variety of fresh foods and beautiful presentation never got boring.

Crew & Guides Review

The pre-tour guide and driver were outstanding. Our guide went above and beyond to make our experience a good one and to give us insight into his country in addition to seeing 'the sights' - it was a true cultural experience which I wanted and appreciated. The National Geographic crew from top to bottom were fantastic.

Itinerary Review

Antarctica was simply amazing. Nothing can compare and you simply have to see it to believe it. We also enjoyed our day trip to Valpairaiso. The day trip and the drive over with a stop at a local winery gave us a good flavor for the region as well as a day to adjust and get ready for the next leg of the journey.

AdventureSmith Explorations Review

Nick helped us for more than a year to secure the trip, work on pre-tours and help with all preparations and questions - which were many. He was also professional and responsive and educational in preparing us for the trip. Just what I wanted from a travel agency. Expert advice from people who have been there and can match your wishes and travel style to the right fit for you.

Traveler Advice

Plan far ahead and research what the actual trip experience will be like. Find the fit that best suits your personality and travel style. Be flexible. The only challenge was a very late night flight out of Santiago to Dallas. The downtime on that final day proved to longer than I would have liked. I would recommend to future travelers that they spend the night in Santiago, taking a morning flight out the following day in order to ensure a less exhaustive end to the trip. Santiago city center is worth seeing but not particularly engaging - at least at the moment. The protests have very much disrupted the flow for tourists and the effects on the city with graffiti and boarded up sites around the city are painful to see.

Accommodations Review

Superb! Top-notch cleaning of our rooms. 

Meals Review

Every meal at North Face was outstanding! Much of it was grown on-site and was fixed and presented beautifully. They even picked wild blueberries and made blueberry tarts!!

The cruise meals were good as well, but you can't get that fresh quality on a boat like you can on land. They were very timely served and hot things were hot and cold things were cold. I was full every day!

Crew & Guides Review

I cannot remember our moderate hike guides' names at North Face Lodge, but both were excellent and very knowledgeable! John made a most superb leader, along with Andi, and were gentle with their bell before announcements.

Katie, Dani, Sarah, really all the crew on board the Wilderness Adventurer were beyond great. They were also knowledgeable and helpful. They were highly trained and had kind, fun-loving spirits.

AdventureSmith Explorations Review

Most excellent! We were well prepared for this trip, right down to the rubber boots, which we really didn't need on the boat because they had plenty of all sizes. But our boots came in handy for the rest of the trip. Shuttles, buses, flights, trains, really every mode of transportation was on time and had friendly drivers.

I can't thank you enough for the best vacation I have ever had. When I had questions, you either called me or emailed me in a timely manner, which alleviated any concerns I had. 

I know at least three people who want to "pick my brain" about this trip, and you will be highly recommended.

Traveler Advice

Go for it!  Its worth every penny, and you won't regret it.

Accommodations Review

Comfortable cabins and amenities.

Meals Review

Refined breakfasts, with wines and food of caliber at every lunch and dinner.

Crew & Guides Review

Helen professionally managed the trip and dreamed up a series of experiences throughout the cruise.

AdventureSmith Explorations Review

Very thorough preparation meant little concern or risk of dissatisfaction.