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What was the highlight or most memorable moment of your tour?
Macaws flying around ruins, and boat trips.
How was your Explore Tour Leader?
Jorge was very knowledgeable and courteous.
What tips would you give to someone else booking this tour?
Don't need ankle-support walking boots. Any good walking shoes will do.
Do you have anything else to add?
Do NOT go on a trip with more than 15 people. The bus was too small for the 18 on our trip. Photos of bus emailed to Explore, but no response from them.
Our response
Thank you for your comments. We’re sorry you were unhappy with the size of the bus in relation to group numbers. The bus is the one we have always used, a Toyota Cruiser, with a capacity of 20. We cannot use a larger bus, due to the nature of the roads in the Nebaj area. If we reduce the maximum capacity to 15, there would have to be a significant increase in the selling price of the tour, as so many of the costs are fixed regardless of numbers. There is always a balance to be struck between our being able to offer the tour at a competitive and affordable price, and also maintaining the quality of the group experience for our customers. We can assure you, we are very well aware of this, and are really working hard to get this right.
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On a secondary note, we have no record of ever receiving your photos. It’s possible that if the files were very large, they may not have got through. Would you like to try sending them again? Our address is cr@explore.co.uk
What was the highlight or most memorable moment of your tour?
There were so many-the spectacular birds,being woken up by Howler monkeys at Tikal,the boat trip on the Rio Dulce,walking over the mountain at Nebaj-and many more
How was your Explore Tour Leader?
Jeorge was a superb organiser and a mine of information.great sense of humour and handled our friend's crisis(she had to go home on day 4)with care and efficiency.
What tips would you give to someone else booking this tour?
Although this is not an "active" holiday there are several long trips on the minbus and a fair bit of walking around Mayan sites/markets/towns so good shoes and stamina are a must
Do you have anything else to add?
This is a wonderfully varied trip which gives you a real sense of Guatemala past and present. Highly recommended!
What was the highlight or most memorable moment of your tour?
The exhilerating boat trip across Lake Atitlan, visiting Mayan villages and hearing about the traditions
Read moreHow was your Explore Tour Leader?
Jorge was an excellent leader - lovely sense of humour, good knowledge of his subject and really interested in people
What tips would you give to someone else booking this tour?
Guatemala is in the Tropics - but can be cold and wet, without the central heating and sturdy buildings to cope with bad weather. Take clothes which you would normally consider for an English spring!
Do you have anything else to add?
Most of the hotels we stayed in were first rate - better than any we have used with Explore before. Two, however, were damp, cold and none too clean.
Our response
Thank you for your review. Our Operations Manager has also received your holiday questionnaire, and is already aware of your comments relating to the standard of two hotels you stayed in.
Your feedback is very much appreciated and has been passed onto our local agent. We wish to assure you that we intend to monitor further customer feedback in order to identify if the problems you experienced were isolated or whether there has been a drop in standards at these particular hotels.
What was the highlight or most memorable moment of your tour?
The times in the Mayan Villages in the market places was great. The people for me were the real highlights.
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How was your Explore Tour Leader?
Jorge was a master tour leader. He worked really hard to look after everyone and ensure we all enjoyed the trip. Even the night he got no sleep as he was looking after the person that fell over. He was back on the ball the following day ready to entertain.
What tips would you give to someone else booking this tour?
"Make sure you stay upright. Good shoes good grip and a good sense of balance is essential.
Keep mind open about food. Hotdogs with Avocado, Cabbage and Chilli is a good eat. "
Do you have anything else to add?
"I think I saw more Mayan highlights here than when I toured around Mexico 15 years ago. Guatemala is a good choice for the Mayan experience with not too many tourists as a bonus."
What was the highlight or most memorable moment of your tour?
Day of dead festival at Chichicastenanga 1st November. Superb, loads of noise, music, dancing, a special meal, and a packed out colourful cemetery full of happy people bedecked in traditional costume. A great atmosphere and a real eye opener.
How was your Explore Tour Leader?
Jorge knew everything. He was skilled enough to present it all to us as we went at appropriate time. He had the tour organised with extreme precision. A very talented chap who enhanced the whole experience with his ability.
What tips would you give to someone else booking this tour?
"Tour was continually challenged wih rocky, bumpy and slippery surfaces. Even the streets are bumpy, slippery and most of the way through there remained tripping or falling hazards. One passenger couldn't complete the trip due to a fall. You need to bring a sturdy set of footwear with good grip, this coupled with a good sense of balance will help.
One point that suprised me throughout was high number of mayan descendants still openly wearing national costume, far more than I encountered anywhere else in Central America. Mayan and indiginous traditions seem more entrenched here than elsewhere in C America including Mexico. Many people, especially in remote villages near Nebaj responded well with the camera and not how I'd perceived it through some guidebooks. "
Do you have anything else to add?
"I reinforce the issues about the footwear, it can rain at any time in some regions so make sure you are prepared. Also some suitable shoes with cushioning as many streets and side walks are cobbled and if you're out all day it aches the soles a bit.
This was a very enjoyable tour and I got more value from it than I'd anticipatd, it wasn't all about ancient sites such as Tikal or Copan. The Mayan people are keeping their traditions going, so are a living history to their culture. "
What was the highlight or most memorable moment of your tour?
Tikal was certainly amazing despite the torrential downpour!! We were very lucky. Our group consisted of two people one of whom wasn't well enough to do a full tour so two of us had a very comprehensive tour of the site and a guide to ourselves. We also saw lots of wildlife because we were quiet. I also very much enjoyed out time in Nebaj-despite the fact the hotel was the most simple of all it all felt very authentic and the scenery was stunning
How was your Explore Tour Leader?
AS our group was so small we travelled in a mini bus and the tour leader, Jorge, also acted as driver. This meant he worked a great deal harder than I would normally expect and he gave up a lot of his free time to deal with the unusual group dynamic. I can not praise him highly enough
What tips would you give to someone else booking this tour?
Do bring a good pair of shoes to walk around Tikal. The full tour is quite a walk over often uneven ground. Be careful when taking photos of the local people in their wonderful costumes. It is so tempting but they may not be in agreement or of they are may want some form of payment. It depends how much you want that photo!! It is obviously not so much of an issue if you buy something from the person in question.
Do you have anything else to add?
An excellent trip but it was rather a strange dynamic with just three people. Luckily I think we got on but it could have been a very difficult situation.
