ABOUT ULTIMATE TOURS
Our staff
Selvy Ugaz
Founder and Managing Director
Born in Lima, the capital of Peru, Selvy has spent the last seven years assisting underprivileged children in Lima and Cuzco. He is Co-Founder of Peru's Challenge - a not-for-profit organisation to help children in the rural communities of Peru - www.peruschallenge.com.
Selvy is so passionate about his country of Peru. He loves to share his local knowledge and secrets.
It has been his dream for a long time to start a tour company that shows travellers the best that South America has to offer while also having the ability to assist Peruvian communities living in extreme poverty.
He has also completed a business and banking administration course, and has lived and worked in England and Mexico.
Selvy is based in Cuzco, Peru.
Languages spoken: Spanish (mother tongue) and English.
Jane Gavel
Operations Director
Jane is an Australian. Throughout 2002, Jane travelled extensively in Mexico, Central America and South America.
Basing herself in Cuzco, Peru for eight months Jane completed a Spanish language course and taught English to local students.
For the last six years, Jane has been living in Cuzco and is the President and Co-Founder of Peru's Challenge - a not-for-profit organisation to help children in the rural communities of Peru - www.peruschallenge.com.
Jane is based in Cuzco, Peru.
Languages spoken: English (mother tongue) and Spanish.
Nicole Lenoir-Jourdan
Marketing Director
Nicole has almost fifteen years of travel writing and communications experience. Her Public Relations experience includes roles of over ten years in the travel industry with Malaysia Airlines (Public Relations Manager Australia and New Zealand for four years) and Countrylink State Rail (Public Relations Manager).
Nicole has been elected as the Associates’ representative on the Australian Society of Travel Writers for three consecutive years and nominated as Communicator of the Year for five consecutive years.
She has worked as a journalist and continues to freelance for a number of magazines. She is a contributor to Luxury Travel which she helped the publishers put together.
Nicole has held the position of Travel Editor Elle Cuisine and Australian correspondent for New Zealand’s Intravel magazine.
She is currently the Director of Travel and Promotions at Australian Table Magazine, the Travel Editor for Yen magazine and is a columnist in the AFTA Traveller magazine.
Nicole is based in Sydney, Australia.
Languages spoken: English (mother tongue), Mandarin, French, German and basic Spanish.
Why travel with Ultimate Tours Peru?
Value for money
Because we are based here in Peru and can organise tours directly, large mark-up costs are not included in our tour prices.
We also do not spend money of expensive brochures and advertising - costs which are covered by passengers of travel companies.
Private or shared services
Each of our itineraries provide you with a choice between a private or shared tour.
Private tours are run exclusively by Ultimate Tours Peru and offer the following benefits:
- You are not travelling as a large group.
- You will travel in private transport to allow you to stop at any time for photos or any other reason.
- You have your own guide to answer any questions you have.
- You decide with your guide what you want to visit and for how long.
- You also decide what time you want to start and finish the day.
- Changes can be made to your itinerary at a moments notice.
- Anything is possible to organise.
Shared tours are joined with other groups from other agencies and may not always be organised and run by Ultimate Tours Peru. They provide the following benefits:
- Prices are cheaper as costs are shared.
- You will meet other travellers.
Professional Guides
Ultimate Tours Peru have a number of guides both male and female that work on a contract basis.
They are all professionally accredited tour guides and speak a variety of languages, including English and Spanish.
Each are very passionate about Peru, its culture and history. They are extremly dedicated to their jobs and feel priviledged to be able to share their knowledge with you.
During any tour, they are happy to help you with any request no matter how small.
Food
Contrary to popular belief, the variety of food and flavour on offer within Peru is incredible.
You will find that within our itineraries, most meals are included. We always visit great Peruvian restaurants that offer the best examples of cuisine from specific regions in Peru. We also ensure that each restaurant can cater to any dietary requirement.
On our trekking tours, we can also cater for any dietery requirements. Our standard trekking menu is detailed below:
Breakfast:
- Pancakes, porriage, bread or toast with butter, jam or eggs, omeletes.
- Tea, coffee, water
Lunch:
- Vegetable soups
- Rice or pastas with chicken, beef, vegetables or fresh trout.
- tea, coffee, water, cordial
Dinners:
- Vegetable soups
- Rice or pastas with chicken, beef or fresh trout.
- Some type of small desert (popcorn, rice pudding, fruit etc.)
- tea, coffee, water, cordial
Snacks:
- Fruit, biscuits, popper juices, lollies.
Make sure you tell us if you are having a birthday or anniversary during the tour or trek so we can organise something special for you.
Accommodations
Within each of our tours, you have the choice of backpacker, standard or luxury accommodation options.
- Backpacker is usually within hostels or 2 Star hotels with shared bathrooms.
- Standard will always be a 3 to 4 Star hotel with private bathrooms.
- The luxury option will be the best hotel/lodge available within each specific destination.
All accommodations we provide include hot-water 24 hours a day and breakfast.
Transport & safety
Ultimate Tours Peru has access to 4WD vehicles. Each are no more than 10 years old and are serviced regularly. Our professional drivers have been transporting tourists for more than eight years.
The safety of our passengers is of upmost importance. All of our tours are checked regularly to ensure they pass vigerous safety standards. Our tour guides are all trained in First-Aid and altitude training.
Up-to-date and correct information
Because we are based in Peru, we have access to the latest travel information. We have the ability to immediately make changes to a tour if any political instability occurs within the area.
Testimonials
Tom from Australia - travelled in January 2008.
"I just wanted to write and tell you that our trip went perfectly without a hitch! It was very well organized and coordinated and we had some excellent guides!"
Janet and Lucy from Australia - travelled in August 2007.
"Thanks for a wonderful trip you organised. So special to see what you're accomplishing in Cusco and makes a holiday so much more 'worthwhile' to even spend a tiny bit of time helping others."
Responsible Tourism
Community projects
Behind all the breathtaking beauty that Peru offers, life for many Peruvians is tough.
For this reason, in 2002, Jane Gavel from Australia and Selvy Ugaz from Peru created Peru's Challenge – a not-for-profit organisation working with volunteer travellers to improve child education, health and hygiene standards in indigenous mountain villages.
During your time in Peru, you have the option of a half or full-day side-trip to visit the Pumamarca community on the outskirts of Cuzco, to view the great work being done by Peru’s Challenge.
You can even help their current volunteers with whatever projects need to be completed or purchase handicrafts directly from the community members through the Pumamarca Parents Group.
Ultimate Tours Peru also donates 10% of each trip within Peru directly to Peru’s Challenge.
For more information on the work of Peru’s Challenge, please visit their website - www.peruschallenge.com
Treatment of our guides and porters
Ultimate Tours Peru pay their guides porters and support crew above the regulated wage rate decided by the Institute of National Culture.
For our trekking tours, we give each crew member a sleeping bag, sleeping matt and tent. They also eat the same food as our passengers.
Wholesale operations
If you are a travel agent or other tour company and would like to organise tours with us directly, please contact us.
