South America Explorer with Gapforce

Overall a great trip, really good experiences and amazing people. Really enjoyed the variety of activities and the overall pacing of the trip. I was at first worried about the length of the trip- whether it would be too short to experience everything I wanted, or too long to be with a group I didn't know and away from home. Looking back I now think it's a very good length, the number of places visited gave a wide view of environments within both Peru and Ecuador, and the pacing between multi-day treks and city breaks meant I never got bored of one place, or needed more down time. If I could change what I brought, i would recommend more normal day clothes as I mostly only brought trekking clothes. I would also bring a other book, as I only brought two, and had more down time than I anticipated - especially during the quilotoa loop trek. Would really recommend the trip.

Cusco was a beautiful city that I will absolutely return to, we felt very safe and looked after. A little basic Spanish before the trip was super helpful, despite having Spanish school (which was amazing for recapping and learning more!). We were split into 3 groups based on ability, which made it easier to have tasks tailored to your abilities.

The Salkantay and Quilotoa treks were tough but our leader Colin was so supportive, knowledgeable and a general legend. He made the treks incredible experiences and we all had a great time!

Tamandua and YanaCocha were insane! We had the best time, the jungle views were epic and the wildlife we saw on the night walks were lovely! Sleeping in hammocks in the jungle was an experience…but would definitely do again!! The volunteering was so rewarding and interesting - I will absolutely do something similar again in the future.

The market towns at the end of the trip were lovely and perfect for present/souvenir buying.

The people are all amazing I’ve made some (hopefully!) lifelong friends! I brought a 50L and 20L day back and I thought that was perfect. I brought a mix of trekking clothes, casual day wear, beach wear and one or two cute going out tops which were really useful for nights out!

A truly amazing adventure, what you put in is definitely what you get out of the 2months. My highlights were definitely the Salkantay Trek and Animal Volunteering. I think practicing Spanish before you leave definitely makes the Spanish school in Cusco a lot easier! I found bringing my own sleeping bag to be super helpful compared to renting, I brought a 60L and 25L backpack which was perfect for the duration of the trip. Would recommend to anyone who asked! Don't be nervous and just enjoy the experience!

My gap year trip to Peru and Ecuador was absolutely unforgettable. I had such an amazing time exploring two of the most beautiful and culturally rich countries in South America.
Not only was it great to visit and explore these countries, the gap force leaders were very friendly and helpful therefore making the trip feel relaxed and stress free. Another reason why I had a great experience was the food, I felt that we were fed well at every meal alongside the food being healthy. Overall, I loved my experience on the trip and would strongly recommend.

Peru can be very cold, hence I would highly recommend bringing many layers and even a puffer coat. Remember to bring a raincoat since it rained most days.

Mozzie spray is imperative.

Bring extra water bottles - you never know if or when you’ll lose a bottle. Remember to pack waterproof bag covers for both your day bag and your big bag.

Don’t make the mistake that I made- actually buy a hiking backpack that has good back and hip support. If you don’t, you make your hiking a lot more challenging and uncomfortable.

As someone who hasn’t really travelled extensively outside of my home country, I was fairly excited to try something new. Before this trip I had never been to South America but always wanted to see places like Machu Picchu. On this trip I ended up meeting so many awesome people, eating lots of great food, and engaging in activities that I honestly would have never expected to do. Paragliding, volunteering with rainforest animals, and even walking around the local cities gave me some amazing memories.

This trip was an absolutely unforgettable experience, with memories I will cherish forever. The itinerary has a good mix of hiking in nature and getting to see cities. Do expect to be camping in proper tents without wifi and to be trekking for several days straight. The hiking was pretty hard but doable, even though I wasn't in the best of fitness, and the group will never leave you behind. Other than the hiking and planned activities you have a good amount of time to explore on your own. Sunscreen and bug spray ESSENTIAL.

This trip was amazing, great for students taking a gap year who want to see South America in the comfort of a guide and group! While this trip is advertised as a backpacking trip, the actual backpacking is done over only a week, most of the trip is spent exploring towns or doing touristic activities (other than the week and a half spent volunteering.) If that is what you are looking for great, but for those just looking for an actual backpacking experience or want to save money, I would recommend doing a self-led trip or go with friends!