Alejandro Figuerola 06/09/2011 – United States

My girlfriend and I were searching for a comfortable adventure in Peru. Our research showed that there are plenty of companies to choose from but after our trek and speaking to other trekkers Peru Mountain Explorers proved to be the best. The service was excellent. Other trekkers on the Santa Cruz Trek would constantly ask for the name of our company because they felt we were getting a superior service. Our mornings started with coffee or mate de coca tea, followed by warm water to wash our faces and teeth. After about 30 minutes of packing our personal gear, we would head to the dinning tent, for breakfast. The dining tent was comfortable and breakfast was delicious. From fried eggs, to pancakes, to cereal and yogurt. You pick! After breakfast we would pick up our snack for the day and start our trek. Somewhere, around our trek usually around 12 or 1 PM we would turn a corner and see our cook with the table set and lunch ready. Having lunch on a table with proper silverware “al fresco” in that scenery was amazing. You cant find this beauty in any restaurant anywhere. Trust me, “I’ve been around!” After lunch we would continue trekking toward our objective, usually another 2 or 3 hrs. When we arrived at our next camp we would find the tents set up and the dinning tent brewing some mate de coca; and set on the table some tea crackers or popcorn. After our “lonche” which is Peru’s version tea time, We would go relax, walk around, or go meet other trekkers from different companies. At around 7 PM we would meet back at the dining tent, for a spectacular meal. All were three course meals. Some of the things we had where lomo saltado, fried trout (awesome), pachamanca and probably the best cream of squash soup I’ve ever had. Over-all the food was amazing, our plates where clean every night.
All the employees, from the guide to the cook to the donkey herders where really nice, very knowledgeable, and really helpful. On the highest part of our trek I was not feeling well, and the cook followed right behind me with the the emergency horse to make sure I was okay all the way to the top. We did the Santa Cruz trek, with a two day extension to finish at the “Laguna de Llanganuco” I think this should be the norm. To finish in those lagoons was a great reward after a 6 day trek. I recommend to get those extra days.
I highly recommend Peru Mountain Explorers and I cant wait to use them again on my Cordillera Huayhuash trek within the next two years.

 Email: guanobear@hotmail.com

Rosi Bogner 09/2006 – Germany

I am going to thank you so much for organizing this Santa Cruz Trek. I have had same really interesting and enjoyably days with liliana , the guide and cook and hektor, the donkeyman. From beginning the tour to the end I allways felt safe and comfortably with this two peruan persons beside. Everything was organized well. Starting the tour I god a lunchpaket and instructions, how everything was going to work next time. Liliana really was a lovely person, allways having open ears for what I did like and a wonderful kind of humor. I hope, she enjoyed the tour as well, even though she had to do a hard job by cooking in this kitchentent. All food I god to eat was welltasting and thoroughly prepared, I enjoyed every meal. Hektor also was doing a good job: every time, we arrived at our destational place ,tents were proberly placed and water boiling for having some tea or coffee. I loved having a fishing action with him, he really was trying hard to get some `truchas`, with were prepared freshly. While walking Liliana was explaning about nature and surounding. While I was trying to practise speaking castellano, she allways tried to support and correct. The last day, before retouring to Huaraz I was brought to a hot spring pool. I thought, it was´nt worse going there, because it either had shower nor an enjoyable atmosphere . She didn`t mind the effort of going there by taxi and we retourned. I have to thank the team for doing a really good job, so I could have a great time!!

Email: bognerfamily@web.de

Stan Kostrzewski 06/2006 – Newtown, CT, USA

To whom it may concern
This summer I spent two weeks trekking and climbing Cordillera Blanca in Peru. Victor Sanchez Caldua organized my entire trip. He sent me in advance very detailed itinerary of my trip and what I found later was, that every step of this itinerary was very well executed. I’ve got good class of accommodation in Lima and in Huaraz. Whatever meant to be included, it was really included. Victor met me at the airport in Lima and travel with me to the mountains.He was my private guide for entire two weeks. While trekking and climbing bigger crew joined us: Martin (cook), Toni (donkey driver), a porter and four donkeys. Food was excellent and varied, perfectly served on china, on the tablecloth with silverware and napkins. Lunch was usually served on the trail and on the tablecloth too. I even got a hot water for washing every morning and evening. I hiked and camped in many places, but never with that level of luxury.
Victor is a great guide, experienced leader, very honest and courteous person who made this expedition run seamlessly. I would recommend Victor and his company Peru Mountain Explorers to anyone planning trekking or climbing Cordillera Blanca.
Thanks Victor for great mountaineering adventure in Peru.
Stan Kostrzewski

Email: skostrzewski@charter.net

Jeremy Jensen 02/09/2011 – Seattle, Washington, USA

Simply put, my climbing experience with Victor and his team was life-changing. The Cordillera Blanca mountain range is stunningly beautiful. I was fortunate to have been able to share this experience with my brother and his two teenaged sons from Colorado.
Based on our research Cordillera Blanca Climbing represented mountaineering expertise, local knowledge, and a good value. Victor and his team exceeded my expectations on all levels. They handled the logistical details, provided great food, and motivated us to reach our goal to summit Tocllaraju. I will never forget Victor’s motivational speech at 3am in 15F degree weather at the base of a gnarly bergschrund. “Why did you come to Peru? You came TO GET THE SUMMIT!!!” We laugh about it now with Victor, yet at the time it was exactly what we needed to summon our courage to ascend to our goal.

Email:  jeremykjensen@gmail.com

Christof Messner 16/07/2010 – Switzerland

In june 2010 i had the opportunity to use the services of Peru Mountain Explorers to climb Alpamayo during a 5-day trip from Huaraz.The quality of service during that time was outstanding – the team really works hard on providing the best support conceivable. They’re highly organized, flexible and keep an eye on every detail. State-of-the-art tents and varied, rich food made life in the camps easy.
Victor Sanchez is an outstanding mountain guide with excellent technical and tactical skills, a reliable man, always attentive to the clients mental and physical state. For me -apart from having reached the summit – his personal leading and great enthusiasm for his profession made this trip a unforgettable experience. Beyond doubt, Peru Mountain Explorers would also be the agency of choice for my next trip to Peru.}

Email: messner@bluewin.ch

Craig Cassover 08/2006 – New York – USA

Greetings…I just finished an amazing 18 days in Peru highlighted by a 10 day trek in the spectacular Huayuash Range and a 2 day climb of Vallunaraju in the awesome Cordillera Blanca. I just wanted to pass along a huge Thank You for what was an awesome experience. Victor Sanchez Caldua of Cordillera Blanca Climbing flawlessly planned and guided the entire trip from the promt pick up at the airport in Lima to the acclimatization hikes to the great route in the Huayuash.For 10 days we shared awesome mountains great food and good company! The climb of Vallunaraju was a great way to cap off the trip. Although not a technical peak, Victor’s speed and competence in the mountains was obvious. I can honestly say that this was a great experience made even more special by the company of Victor and his truly caring staff ! I look forward to the day when I return to Peru to trek and climb once again with Victor and his crew…. Thank You ….

Email: craigkass@yahoo.com

Giorgio Giudici – Italian Mountain Guide UIAGM 06/2006 – Italy

Ringrazio vivamente la guida Victor Sanchez Caldua per la preziosa collaborazione e grande professionalità dimostrata nell’organizzazione e nello svolgimento del trekking di Santa Cruz/Llanganuco e nelle salite alpinistiche ai Nevados Pisco e Tocllaraju.
Buon manager, ha dimostrato anche, in campo alpinistico, ottime qualità tecniche durante la salita al Tocllaraju, montagna di 6000m impegnativa tecnicamente e fisicamente. Da lodare anche le sue qualità umane e la sua simpatia e spontaneità. Un grazie anche a tutto lo staff di “Cordillera Blanca Climbing – Peru Mountain Explores”: cuochi, portatori, aiutanti, arrieros e a Yessica, che si sono dimostrati sempre pronti ed efficenti permettendo la buona riuscita e il successo della spedizione. Arrivederci a presto.

Email: giudicigiorgio@libero.it

Emilio Argiz 05/02/2012 – Espain

To put it in short, Victor and his team are very good professionals. They are pretty well organized, and highly knowledgeable of the mountaineering technique and security measures. I did with them a six days trip including an aclimatization day trekking to lake 69, and then a five days trek with the goals of reaching the summit of Urus and Tocllaraju. The quality of the meals was excellent, as well as the tents, and the expertise and skillfulness while climbing. For sure I‘d rely on Victor and his team again, and I hope I’ll have the chance of climbing with him the Huascaran or the Alpamayo.

Email: eargiz@mundo-r.com

Lilian Dilling  15/05/2007 – Germany

Santa Cruz Trekking (15 – 18 / 05 / 2007)
Dear Victor
Muchas gracias for an unforgettable trip!
Everything was well organized.
1.- My Guide Mesias Villanueva was very helpful
2.- My cook Marcelino Salazar cooked delicious well
3.- My Donkey Driver was nice and averydays ready to help.
Tent was well and great!
Thanks a lot!
Definitely am going to tell my vacation friends!

Email: liliandilling@web.de