Viventura: 2026 Reviews, Contact Info, and Practical Details

A very beautiful "Explore Peru-Bolivia-Chile" tour across these 3 Latin American countries, with fabulous sites and a well-planned itinerary. Before deciding, I compared several offers and it was truly the best one, offered over 21 days, and the price was attractive too. Only one regret: we didn't visit Sucre and Potosi. The restaurants were very good to good (I have a great memory of a place by the Pacific with a meal prepared for us with all kinds of seafood, a real treat!). And how many "pisco sours" were we treated to?! The hotels were good to okay, and where it was basic, like at the Salar de Uyuni, we were warned ahead of time. We had some bad luck between La Paz and Uyuni, actually, because of the Tour of Bolivia cycling race. Instead of the train, we were forced to take a bus on a dirt road, 10 hours of total discomfort, but we knew before leaving that in Bolivia anything can happen! We had a competent guide, Ricardo, who knows the terrain well, speaks perfect French, was helpful, took great care of us, was always in a good mood, and had exemplary patience, even with chronic complainers, yes, they exist! Just one observation: the optional excursions and the tips for local guides (sometimes 2 different ones in the same day) add up to a significant amount in the end. Personally, I would have preferred to pay before departure or at least know the exact price. Or better yet, pay a guide package at the start of the trip, and that is that. For me, it was a particularly successful trip, and I would travel with VIVENTURA again. I am eagerly awaiting their circuit on Brazil...

We just finished the Peru-Bolivia-Chile trip organized by VIVENTURA. No bad surprises here because everything is clearly explained in the travel booklets, on the website, and during the frequent phone calls with the organizers. One example: "simple but clean hotels," and that is exactly what it was. There was an option for full board, and the meals were more than enough in terms of quality and quantity. The bus rides were long, but that was explicitly planned and unavoidable in these countries. We chose VIVENTURA with full knowledge of what to expect:
- For the value for money (we checked other tour operators before leaving)
- For the quality of the itinerary
- Because a portion of the trip price is donated to local charities (we visited a school funded by VIVENTURA and do not regret it at all)
- For the "sport/adventure" side, which is suitable for anyone in normal shape as specified by VIVENTURA
And we were not disappointed in the least. We are perfectly satisfied with how the trip was prepared and the real presence of the managers, even after we got back. We have traveled a lot but have never had such great contact with other tour operators. We appreciated the quality of the circuit, the sites, and our excellent guide RICARDO. A magnificent tour despite the hazards inherent in this type of trip in such vast countries where transport is limited to planes and buses or minibuses on roads that are sometimes bad. For our part, a big thank you to VIVENTURA. By the way, we continued on to the Patagonia/Argentina/Chile trip (STUNNING, and there again with an excellent guide), for 6 weeks in total, as VIVENTURA created the first circuit to allow us to link up with the second one. And despite being 74 years old, we returned richer with unforgettable experiences and in great shape! In any group trip, the hardest part is not the travel, but having an enthusiastic and tolerant group when faced with minor inconveniences. We didn't choose the wrong trip or the wrong operator, and we highly recommend VIVENTURA.

Review imported on 11/04/2020 from our old site Voyage-Net.com

Having traveled (as a couple, age 65) with Viventura on the Peru, Bolivia, and Chile circuit, I am surprised by some of the comments. While the hotels are sometimes simple, the value for the money is not an issue. My only regret regarding the accommodations is the lack of heating in every hotel except in Cusco (which had a space heater). The average temperature was 57 degrees (14°C) in the rooms, and especially in the bathrooms. Age is only of secondary importance, as the most important thing on any circuit is to be in good health. We are on our 20th tour, and only the duration (3 weeks) tired my wife out, but we knew that and chose it with full knowledge. The tips for local guides are annoying, and by the end, the dozen tourists in our group stopped giving them. My wife suggested, like we had just done in Sri Lanka, giving a lump sum to Ricardo (an excellent guide, one of the few we will never forget) to simplify the problem, but our proposal was not accepted. In a good democracy, that did not bother us. I also found it wonderful to be able to contact someone from the agency on site, and also to reach out via the internet to tourists who had just done the same circuit. For the sake of simplicity, we ended up calling each other. Regarding potential health problems, a young girl in our group had an issue at Lake Titicaca, and in the middle of the night, the guide took care of getting her hospitalized. Then, the next day, while we had arrived in La Paz and this person's health was improving, he went back in the night to get her. An improvement we would have liked is the bus and train transfer from La Paz to Uyuni. It seems that a flight connection has existed recently, and since the landscapes passed are not interesting, it would be beneficial and less tiring, with an arrival that would not be in the middle of the night. Despite a few small problems, we returned enchanted by this circuit and by Viventura.

Traveler99's comments are spot on and I 100% confirm the points raised. We went with Viventura for a Peru-Bolivia-Chile tour and overall we were satisfied, with the caveat of the negative points you mentioned. We consider ourselves satisfied because, upon re-reading the proposed program and what we discovered on the ground, we believe that what we discovered and experienced was fairly consistent with what the agency had announced: a fast-paced rhythm requiring good physical condition, long trips by bus and 4x4, average to basic but nevertheless clean hotels, etc. We have been traveling for many years in Asia and the Middle East, and we have seen much worse than what we experienced in Peru and Bolivia. We should take into account that our Western habits regarding comfort and food are always very tested when we leave for a destination that is exotic and different from our standards of living. When we go to such destinations, we need time to adapt, and depending on each person's health, moods, and abilities, it will take more or less time. If we do not accept this risk and this questioning of ourselves, we must ask the question: did we choose the circuit that suits us?

Regarding Viventura and its proposal, I continue to think that it is quite original and corresponds quite well to an expectation for a given audience: tourism mixing culture, discovery, and sports adventure. This formula does not need to be called into question, but rather improved and, above all, made safer. It should be known that improvement cannot come exclusively from the agency, as mid-range hotels in Peru and Bolivia are what they are, meaning average to basic. What we found most trying was not the lack of heating or equipment, but very often the noise pollution, day and night, which has the effect of giving you a bad night's sleep, making the day all the more painful because you have to try to recover the lost sleep on buses with chaotic routes. And we confirm that the transport times announced by Viventura are very often minimized. When you are told 7 hours by bus, it is very often 8, 9, or even 10 hours or more that you should expect.

Where the agency does not seem very clear is in a certain concealment of safety risks: electrical installations presenting a risk of electrocution in some hotels, and especially the risks related to transport: vehicles that are not or poorly air-conditioned, defective suspensions, dangerous driving (tired driver, in a hurry to reach the end, consuming a large quantity of coca to stay awake), and the state of the roads and tracks used, which could suggest the worst: buses driving 20 cm from precipices, mudslides, rocks falling on the vehicle. Not to mention the accidents that occurred during activities: bicycle falls during the descent of Death Road, fractures, sprains, bruises. These are all aspects rarely mentioned by Viventura, or only hinted at, and you have to ask hard questions to get them to talk about it. Obviously, these are not very reassuring aspects and therefore not great for sales. Commercially, it is better to give the impression that everything is going well and that there are no problems. Yes, but there are problems, and sometimes severe ones, and as a traveler, it is better to know them to anticipate them. That is our point of view. It can also be useful to know that in the event of a serious problem (hospitalization in the country, repatriation to France), it can cost you several tens of thousands of euros, and you will be expected to pay in cash, partially or in full, before being reimbursed by your insurance! It is not enough to have paid for the trip; you must also have enough financial resources (available) to deal with an emergency, and they NEVER talk to you about that!

As for the overall cost of a Viventura circuit, it remains to be evaluated with precision. While the price is attractive compared to other tour operators, when you do the math: half-board, drinks not included, numerous optional and paid activities, in the end, is it the cheapest circuit? We think so, given the scope of the tour, but this remains to be evaluated. So, Viventura, yes, we defend the formula, but we would like negative reviews to appear a bit more on the site and not just the 4 and 5 star testimonials from very satisfied travelers.

Review imported on 11/04/2020 from our old site Voyage-Net.com

Hello, I just read some of the messages left previously, and I don't recognize the trip we took in the reviews at all. We did the Peru, Chile, Bolivia trip and the Easter Island extension in July 2012, and everything went wonderfully. We were a group of 16, and the vibe was great. Nicolas Miquau, who was our guide, shared his passion for Peru and Bolivia with us. For us, the organization and the timing were well thought out. We were able to see and discover a huge amount of things in a short time. And so yes, there is a lot of time on the bus. But everything is clearly indicated in the trip description before booking. I was actually a bit worried about those bus hours. In the end, we were able to see a lot of landscapes, and during those trips, our guide told us many stories about local life, so it was very interesting. As for the hotels, I don't think we can compare the hotel industry in Peru and Bolivia with that in France, but nothing was disappointing. Granted, the accommodation in Uyuni is rustic, but you forget about it quickly because you realize how lucky you are to be in such beautiful natural spaces. Next, regarding the organization, sorry to the complainers, but we had no problems to report. We always had someone on the phone or a response to an email (before departure and during the trip). A little story. We had a problem at the hotel dry cleaners in Santiago. Since we couldn't pick up our laundry the next morning, the Viventura team, whom I had on the phone, dispatched a Viventura person to pick up the laundry and bring it to us at the airport. Impeccable service from the tour operator. We also did the Easter Island extension. Nothing to report. There were just two of us with the guide, me and my wife. It was the first time I traveled with Viventura. A tour operator to recommend. We will travel with them again. Lionel Ginoux & Marion Liotard

Hello, I would like to share my opinion on Viventura. I traveled with this agency in July 2012 for their Ecuador/Galapagos tour. I love traveling and have taken trips like the ones Viventura offers several times before, meaning small groups, adventure, culture, and everything went well. I am not criticizing the comfort, transportation, accommodations, or food here because when you take this type of trip, you have to be willing to break away from all your habits, no matter how comfortable they are. It is this total change of scenery that I enjoy. However, I cannot accept negligence regarding the SAFETY of individuals and the RESPECT for the consumer.

Before departure, everything seems impeccable, and Viventura is very attentive. Once on site and in the event of an incident, that is far from the case. The trip was well organized, but the choice of guide left much to be desired: 22 years old, with almost zero experience and a limited command of French. The tour includes few stays in cities, but there are some, along with free time. Other than when we first arrived, our guide never informed us about the safety of the places where we were staying. Instead, he repeated several times a day, every day, that we needed to wear sunscreen (which did not prevent some people from getting second-degree burns and one person from ending up in the hospital in the Galapagos!).

When we arrived in Riobamba (one of the cities on the tour), NO information was given to us even though we had free time. I went out for a walk with someone from the group, but we did not want to walk to the same places, so I left them to go alone to a spot in Riobamba (recommended in travel guides) where there is a view of the 3 volcanoes surrounding the city. I went there, and I was attacked and robbed of my belongings by a man armed with a knife who violently threw me to the ground and turned me over to cut the straps of my bag, which I had tucked under my zipped-up jacket. Fortunately, I only had injuries to my hands and bumps on my head. However, it was a major psychological and emotional shock.

Even if some people think it was my fault, I do not agree because I am not a big adventurer who goes alone into places that are not recommended (I travel with a guide except in Europe and there is a reason for that). Nothing has ever happened to me, not in everyday life, nor during my many trips (2 or 3 per year) over the last few years. Since then, I have looked through the little Viventura travel booklet to see if I had missed any safety information, and no, nothing is mentioned in the booklet.

Fortunately, I did not have my passport on me. I filed a police report on site in Riobamba, and Viventura was informed but did not think it necessary to call me to check on me. Upon my return to France, the same thing, no sign of Viventura wanting to know how I was doing. However, as planned (we were informed beforehand that they would call everyone upon return), Viventura called to get my impressions and my opinion of the trip, forgetting the assault I had suffered. Suffice it to say that I was deeply hurt by this lack of consideration.

Even if it was well organized, this trip traumatized me forever!

I wanted to give an objective review of the trip to post on the Viventura website, but it was not published. After the call from Viventura post-trip, I have had no news despite my dissatisfaction. I wrote to them in November and it was in January that I heard back. Viventura denies any fault in how they treat their clients, even though there is clearly negligence regarding the choice of guide and negligence toward clients in general. I had chosen Viventura for the solidarity and humanitarian aspect of the company, as I am a volunteer myself in a charity organization, but I am disappointed.

Review imported on 11/04/2020 from our old site Voyage-Net.com