Bolivia expert: Maria José

“Deciding to use Rough Guides for our trip to Colombia was a great decision. Maria Jose and team were great from the start. The preliminary planning meetings were easy to arrange and the team listened to our requirements and planned a great trip. We were a bit nervous as the final itinerary was late getting to us, but everything worked out so well and was even better than described. The drivers and guides were top quality, always on time and very knowledgeable. In country support was very responsive and helpful- it couldn’t have been easier for us as a multi-site trip. If you are planning a trip to Colombia, we would recommend Rough Guides but would suggest you don’t need a guide for the Salt Cathedral or the Thermal Spa (Santa Rosa). Main sites are very busy first week of January so bear this in mind. If you like nature, we wish we had stayed overnight in Tayrona National Park so do look at that as an option. Would definitely use this team again. Thank you for a wonderful trip.”

“Unbelievably amazing Galápagos Islands, Ecuador experience! Majo Jaramillo through Rough Guides tailored a remarkable & thoughtful 12 day itinerary for our family, such that there were only adventures & memories to enjoy! From the early planning to the flight back home, Majo was graciously available; whether it be for me to send a thank you for a great adventure set up or to check on a driver pick up. The international flights were not included & Majo worked with the frequent flight updates! Domestic flights were included & looking forward to having Rough Guides include the international fights as well. Very thoughtful gifts around! Majo listened, is experienced, kind, thought & idea generating, clear, communicative, well English versed & created a streamlined once in a lifetime experience for our family! Sea lions, penguins, blue footed boobies, iguanas, sea turtles, rays, dolphins, hawks, land tortoises, sharks, & an inspiring ECO LIFE!!! Majo, Thank you again :D”

“Our family trip to Colombia was top-notch. Our English-speaking guides were not only knowledgeable but also had excellent personalities. Our drivers were prompt & the vehicles were definitely 5-star. Every night, we received a detailed itinerary from Benjamin & received constant updates and welcome WhatsApp messages. We ALWAYS felt safe and cared for. Majo did an excellent job planning our trip, while Benjamin executed the trip once we arrived in Colombia. We are seasoned travelers. However, my husband and I will definitely use Rough Guides again to plan our next trip.”

“The tour advisor was extremely helpful and helped us to build a bespoke tour. However, what actually happened was not exactly what we thought we had booked. We had booked a 5 day 4 night trip to the Peruvian Amazon Jungle and were expecting to have all 4 nights in one place, we had to transfer to a second lodge in the final night in order to do one of the excursions that we had booked, we only found out about this when we arrived in the first lodge. We had also booked a trip to a chocolate plantation to see the whole process from growing the cacao beans to producing a chocolate bar. Our lodge did not seem to know that we had done this and had us booked for a fishing expedition. We did neither in the end, but the (trainee) tour guide arranged for us to have a chocolate preparation/cooking session in stead at the lodge. Not what we had booked. The level of English for the tour guide was also very poor, which did not help our overall experience. Having said that, we did have a good time in the trip.”

“The itinerary covered all the places we wanted to visit and it was great to have the internal flights, transport and logistics organised for us. The arrangements put in place worked very well and saved us a lot of time and hassle, enabling us to enjoy the trip even more. Overall we had a great time. The one point for improvement was the choice of some of the hotels we were allocated. Many of them were really more suited to and dealt mostly with large groups of travellers so the two of us did feel rather "second best" and squeezed at times as we competed for service (and even food) with large coach parties. Smaller, more boutique style places (like those generally recommended in the Rough Guide itself) would have been better for us.”

“My friend and I booked a tailored trip to Peru—our first time doing something like this—and it exceeded all expectations. Maria, who handles trips in Peru, Ecuador, and Colombia, was outstanding from start to finish. She clearly communicated every detail before booking, adjusted the itinerary to our wishes, and handled everything professionally and with care. Payment was smooth, and she remained available whenever issues came up—even when our flights caused delays, she stepped in to help immediately. The guides were knowledgeable, patient, and passionate, adding depth to our experience. The drivers were reliable, and the whole trip felt both well-planned and pleasantly spontaneous. Even when minor problems came up, Maria resolved them quickly and efficiently. Her dedication made all the difference.”