Chimu Adventures Reviews 

I just wanted to review Chimu for their excellent service. I took a trip organised by Chimu 18 months go and it was one of the best holidays I have ever taken. The service is received booking in Sydney together with the office in South America that was so helpful when I was over there. Now that many people have been stuck In South America due to Covid19 it seems that Chimu are the only ones able to organise flights home for the stranded people. Chimu is a quality company providing excellent service for their guests.

Chimu have been superb. Original Antarctic cruise had to be postponed due to illness. Simon handled the whole thing very well indeed and helped us find a replacement cruise we could take 18 months later. It was very easy and painless. Simon answered all my questions promptly and it seemed like it was never an issue. We were so confident with both Simon and Chimu we booked our next trip with him again. As per the trip we just took, Simon has done is proud again. I can't recommend Chimu enough, especially Simon.

In regard to the Spirit of Shackleton 21 day cruise, January 2020.
From original enquiry, booking and trip completion, CHIMU provided excellent and responsive service and assistance.
They also have an office in Buenos Aires, which also provided a great service that includes a 24 hour (emergency) helpline.
The price of the trip also included hotel/airport transfers - recommended.
In regard to the 21 day Antarctic cruise provided by GExpeditions, it was for many reasons a trip I cannot recommend highly enough.
The expedition team were very knowledgeable (verging on experts in their own right), highly organised,competent, friendly and engaging.
The daily excursions - usually one in the am and a second in the pm (when not at sea) - optimised what was on offer buy never compromising our (or their) safety.
When at sea, the range of information sessions, etc were not just on point but refreshingly interesting.
The ship's crew (including: officers,catering/hospitality,etc) were friendly, professional and highly competent.
Food and cabins were also excellent - the most comfortable mattresses i have ever slept on.
Were there niggles? Yes, but so minor that when assessed in perspective, not even worth focusing on.
It is important for me to add that unlike the experience of some other cruises around this time, the weather and seas were close to benign.....Yes we were very lucky!!
Thank you

A group of 8 of us used Chimu Adventures to arrange our outdoor activities in San Carlos de Bariloche, Argentina, book the hotel and arrange for airport transfers. Happily they contracted with a local company, Kawen Adventure Company, or this would be a 1 star review. Initially, our contact person was very helpful and responsive, but days before we left, she just disappeared and her email stopped working. We later learned she was on leave but We were not given the name of any other contact person and we were essentially dumped. Very poor.
The local guides and transport were fabulous, very knowledgeable, prompt and clearly enjoyed their work. Our activities included hiking, mountain biking, kayaking and a lake tour to San Martin de los Andes. All of the equipment was top notch. The lake tour was a big fail as it was WAY WAY too much time in a bus, 6 plus hours round trip, to see another lake and small town where everything was closed for the NYear Holiday, Very poor choice and Chimu should have known better as it was a waste of a precious day. Likewise, they did a bait and switch on the hotel, what a complete dump. Turns out they sold us “standard room (superior accommodation) “ which at the hotel was the lowest economy class possible - right above street level, by the all night bus park and disco which opened at midnight. Although the hotel was on the lake, the economy rooms either face the street or are below ground and face a cement wall! The furnishings should have been replaced years ago, along with the linens, and the bathrooms were so small as to be comical. Clearly no one from Chimu had ever actually visited this hotel and it should be dropped from their rotation unless deluxe rooms can be booked.

We booked our tour with Chimu Adventures to discover Salta and the surrounding areas. Everything went exactly to plan. We were greeted on arrival at the airport by a very pleasant driver who delivered us to our small but very special hotel, Antiguo Convento. We enjoyed our walking tour and not only learnt a lot of history but discovered places that we would not have found unescorted. We did two day long bus trips, one to Humahuaca, the painted mountains breathtaking and the different stops information was clearly provided. The next day to Cafayate and the Valley of Shells. Again the organization was excellent. Then we were collected at exactly the time that we had been given and taken back to the airport. Well done for not only being reliable, but also employing very friendly, informative and positive staff. We now have a raft of magical memories of our days in Salta.

A 19 day trip through Peru was organised by Chimu Adventures

I had a great time travelling around the various parts of the country and experiencing the local lifestyle. Everything went according to schedule. The people who picked me up or dropped me off at the airport, bus station, etc were all very punctual and helpful. The representatives who met me at Lima airport and at Cusco provided additional details on my schedule and this was very good. The different tour guides at the various cities/towns provided a wealth of background knowledge that made the tours that much more enjoyable. Using local transport was a great way to travel around.
Many thanks to Chimu Adventures and Jason Dudson for providing a great vacation.

We had a fabulous trip to South America as part of the Chimu 21 day ‘South America Circle’ itinerary. Highlights of the trip were Machu Picchu, the Amazon Rainforest stay, Rio and Iguazu Falls.
We appreciated getting picked up at airports and hotels punctually. The trip was very well planned by Jason. We also met some very nice tour guides who were very easy to understand and knowledgable.
Our overall enjoyment of the trip was excellent. On a practical level , we would have liked more information about the timing of the trip as we may have added a few free days into the itinerary which was very busy and had some very early pick ups. Also there was no chance to alter your flights ( upgrade) due to the way Chimu do their airline ticketing. But these two aspects did not affect our wonderful experience on the trip.
We would recommend Chimu to anyone looking to travel in South America as the company proved to have great experience and great people working for them at all levels.
Vivianne and Allan

We recently undertook a trip to South America which was organized by Chimu Adventures. We chose Chimu based on a recommendation from a work colleague.
Following discussions with us as to our priorities and our available time, Chimu prepared our itinerary. The trip of 20 days included Chile, the Galapagos Islands, Ecuador and Peru. The itinerary documentation was very comprehensive and informative and thus we anticipated a very interesting and enjoyable trip. And so it proved to be, the highlights being a fabulous 5 day cruise of the Galapagos and a tour of Machu Picchu.
Chimu have arrangements with local companies and the various tours were a combination of private and small group tours. We were met by a company representative without fail when we arrived at each new city, and provided with comprehensive details of our proposed activities. All the local guides were very pleasant and knowledgeable and contributed in a major way to our enjoyment of the trip. We were given local and emergency contact details wherever we went however we never had need to use them.
Chimu also arranged all our flights and accommodation (superior category) which was excellent.
The whole trip ran like clockwork and without a hitch. It was one of the best holidays which we have experienced.
Doug White, our Destination Specialist, was excellent. He was very knowledgeable and approachable, and very responsive to all our telephone and email communications.
We would have no hesitation in recommending Chimu Adventures and Doug White to plan and arrange a trip to South America.
Keith and Ellen Chatto

Clare from Chimu was our trusted adviser for this trip. She was always available and responsive to our needs. She really cared about making sure our trip was wonderful. Nothing was to much trouble for her, she gave us advice based on her experiences in South America which was invaluable.

The trip itself was fantastic. Every guide met us at airports as promised even when flights were delayed, they were there waiting for us to arrive. When you have a 3 hour delay and turn up in the early hours of the morning tired this was much appreciated. We visited Chile, Argentina, Brasil and Peru over almost 5 weeks.

Our hotels were great and our tours well organised. We visited Santiago and Valpairaso plus Vineyards on the way there. Then Buenos Aires, had the best steak of my life there at Don Julio in Palermo, Then on to Iguazo where we stayed at the Belmonde inside the National Park. It was stunning ! Then on to Rio we were the first people up to Christ the Redeemer thanks to our Chimu guide, visited Sugar Loaf Copacabana and had a beautiful lunch at Carretao in Rio.

On to Peru next where we visited Lima made some ceviche and pisco sours, they were great, Hotel Casa Republica was great, then on to Tititaca and the floating islands. Pullman train to Cusco which was wonderful and so was Cusco, so many interesting Inca sites close to the city. Next on to the jewel of Peru, Machu Pichu via Ollantaytambo both so interesting. Photos don't do them justice, we climbed Waynapicchu for the best view of Machu Pichu which was well worth it, when we reached the top. We returned to Cusco via the 360 train which had some great views of the mountains and some Glaciers as well.

Next stop was into the Amazon jungle for 3 nights at Refugio Amazonas by boat up the Tambopata river, a tributary of the Amazon. What an experience ! we saw Caimans, Monkeys, Macaws, Tree Frogs, Toucans, Snakes and Piranhas in their natural environment, plus too many others to mention in a lovely setting with heaps of tours to chose from. The holiday of a lifetime...so far anyway. Thanks to all at Chimu

This was our first trip with Chimu, and we went to the Arctic circle. Everything was well organised and we enjoyed the trip thoroughly. Each day was different and the Expedition Teams made plans around the wildlife in the area and all the opportunities to get out and about in the zodiacs. The ship was great, and the food was really good too.
The team at Chimu were so helpful, and made sure they answered all our questions before our departure and we all had a wonderful time. Thanks Chimu, it won't be our last trip with you.

Trip to South America 2018 was very good. We saw the main bucket list items. Made a few small itinerary changes but Jason sorted those out without and difficulty.

Arctic trip in August 2019 was fabulous. Sort of trip you have to be able to go along with the day to day plan changing Was a wonderful experience. The ship, Sea Spirit, is an excellent cruiser and crew were great.

Second trip with Chimu - all good!
Full disclosure: my sister-in-law works at Chimu so I score a slight discount on the price but I wouldn't have used them again if they weren't any good.
Two fab trips, one to each pole, and I'm a happy camper.

The deserts of northwest Argentina and the Atacama were stunningly beautiful but Chimu had it totally organised, every tour on time and useful, informative guides.The Viva tour had quality accommodation ran to schedule and the guides did a sensational job, every day a winner. All flights went to plan and it was great to see my name on a card at every airport for seamless transfer. Ditto the Chilean part. Thanks to Doug White, Chimu sunny coast for a sterling job of arranging the package.

a fantastic adventure. unique and powerful on every level. there is nothing to compare with this experience apart from another trip to the Antarctic

Wonderful trip . professional friendly personalised attention . great experience. cant fault it !

This is my second excursion with Chimu Adventures. The first trip was to Brazil for 10 days during Carnival with my wife for her 40th birthday celebration. The Chimu team coordinated everything from flights to accommodations, tickets to Carnival, the grand Gala (epic!). We had a fantastic time and more importantly the best and most memorable birthday celebration. I can't thank Chimu team enough for that.
My most recent trip was Arctic Unveiled in late June, 2019. This time it was my birthday celebration:) Once again, Chimu team provided the best experience visiting such a remote place. Coordinated flights from Copenhagen to Longyearbyen and it couldn't have gone better. Travelling to such a remote place obviously has its challenges, taking into account weather conditions and polar ice, however the team on board the Albatros were fantastic. Such kind/friendly and knowledgeably experts and always willing to share their experiences about the flora/fauna and our surroundings. It appeared that me and my fellow passengers all had one common goal; to admire and take in the natural beauty of the Arctic region and we were not disappointed. Now it's time to save some pennies as I can't wait to travel to the antarctic with Chimu in the near future. Based on my past experiences no reason to look for another travel agency as they are professional and truly care about their clients and the environment. Giving back to the community whenever they can. True inspiration for other businesses to emulate. Good luck and safe travels.

I just finished my second adventure with Chimu.
I didn't think that they could top the Antartica and Sth American experience....but somehow they did.
Our Arctic adventure was amazing. The itinerary, the options provided to add to our exciting trip were amazing.
It was great having Greg and Chad on board and they were a great support with any questions or issues that were raised.
The Places We Go filming arranged with Chimu, just added another dimension.
Great ship, fantastic crew, perfect itinerary. I couldn't fault it and would recommend to anyone.
Thanks Chimu.

I went on an Antarctic Peninsula tour and had THE BEST TIME. Beyond Antarctica itself (which is a must-see), the organisation of the ship, the crew, the staff and the Chimu tour leaders was exceptional. Nothing was a problem. It was so well run, well organised and went without a hitch, that many on this trip turned around and booked another Chimu trip!

Recently we travelled with Chimu to the Arctic. What an amazing trip. We were cared for with excellence. There were many insightful lectures on board by very experienced and qualified Expedition Staff. The meals were amazing and with being a Coeliac, I was very well cared for.
We had a projected itinerary but as always when visiting extreme environments, and as the journey commenced, there were changes due to weather conditions and for the safety of us all. The first day we spotted a polar bear so we hung around in that bay all day to observe as well as going out in the Zodiacs to observe the prolific bird life.
The scenery was spectacular with the mood of the Arctic sometimes changing several times a day. A photographers dream.
Detail to our safety while on shore was appreciated. We always felt safe as the expedition staff where on the look out the whole time.
We have travelled with Chimu to the Antarctic 5 years ago and thoroughly enjoyed that trip also. We are so impressed we plan to go with Chimu to Peru and the Galapagos Islands on our next trip. A very professional and personable company.

Awww I love Chimu - having traveled to both poles with them four times since 2014 I look forward to my next adventure with them. My correspondence with Kieran in Brisbane has always been excellent and informative and I can be extremely annoying with my myriad of questions, phone calls and emails. We recently had an issue with our bags not arriving at our destination, Chimu's representative did everything to help us get them back before we headed off on our next leg, to the point where she was going to travel two hours to pick them up for us. I have no problem in recommending them. They have allowed me to develop a passion for Antarctica and the Arctic to the point where that is the only place I want to travel to. Sometimes things change but that's the thrill of Adventure Travel. Where are we going next????