Kimkim Trip Reviews for Peru

4.9
Based on 441 ratings
Read 441 verified reviews by travelers who booked their trip to Peru on kimkim. You can also read reviews about kimkim on 3rd party sites including Google, TrustPilot and Yelp.

Best Day Hikes in the Sacred Valley near Cusco
Peru | Oct 12 - Oct 15, 2017

Sarah
Sarah M.
New York, NY | Reviewed on Oct 17, 2017

Nicole was incredible, and took the time to figure out what kind of trip I wanted, then helped me adjust last-minute when I needed to make some emergency changes.

I plan to recommend Nicole to anyone I hear is going to Peru—whether they ask for recommendations or not :)
She was available, helpful, knowledge, and lovely.

Local specialist: Nicole and Bill Koch
Nicole and Bill
Nicole and Bill Koch
Local specialist in Cusco, Peru | Replied on Oct 21, 2017

Thanks so much! It was our pleasure.

Beauty Of Southern Peru - 10-Day
Peru | Aug 11 - Aug 25, 2017

B
Benjamin Z.
Seattle, WA | Reviewed on Sep 13, 2017

Great trip that more than exceeded my expectations. The guides, activities, and accommodations were fantastic. The only thing that I could have improved would have been to do more research myself and request more days hiking.

Having the opportunity to chat with James on the phone could have sparked a discussion of the pace of the trip and whether a more aggressive itinerary made sense for us.

Local specialist: James M
James
James M
Local specialist in Cusco, Peru | Replied on Sep 28, 2017

Hi Ben, many thanks for your comments. We're really pleased you had a great time whilst you were here with us. Having met you, and in hindsight, a phone call would have been a good idea because I think you'd have enjoyed some really good trekking as part of your program.
Please keep in touch, we'd love to help you out if you're coming back to South America.
Best regards, James

hike Inca trail
Peru | Aug 14 - Aug 18, 2017

D
Diana F.
Dalton, MA | Reviewed on Aug 26, 2017

It was the most amazing hike we ever did and Stephanie was of great help from the day we arrived in Cusco until the time we left. The hotels were really nice and all the people were very nice and friendly. One suggestion would be if you will be able to pair the hikers in the group based on abilities; our group was small and that was perfect. Thanks again for the wonderful trip!

Again, Stephanie went above and beyond to customized our trip based on our needs and she helped us from the time we arrived in Cusco until the day we left. Thanks Stephanie! It was a great pleasure to meet you!

Local specialist: Stephanie Guerra
Stephanie
Stephanie Guerra
Local specialist in Cusco | Replied on Feb 21, 2018

Hi Diana,

It was a pleasure to help you with your trip and to meet your family! I'm glad you enjoyed your trip and had a great time on the Salkantay Trek.

peru trip 2017
Peru | Aug 16 - Aug 19, 2017

C
chrisha m.
Canada | Reviewed on Aug 25, 2017

We had a good guide, Joise. To improve, it would have been great if we had more communication from the travel agent.

Everything was good. Had a good driver and perfect guide. Would have liked to have more communication

Local specialist: Nicole and Bill Koch
Nicole and Bill
Nicole and Bill Koch
Local specialist in Cusco, Peru | Replied on Jan 03, 2018

Hello Chrisha,
Thank you for letting us know your thoughts and thank you very much for the review!
Nicole

Best Day Hikes in the Sacred Valley
Peru | Jul 26 - Aug 1, 2017

Andrew
Andrew H.
United Kingdom | Reviewed on Aug 22, 2017

Fantastic communication and great advice from Nicole. The guide and driver were brilliant.

Local specialist: Nicole and Bill Koch
Nicole and Bill
Nicole and Bill Koch
Local specialist in Cusco, Peru | Replied on Aug 25, 2017

Gracias Andrew. Safe travels.

Best Treks to Machu Picchu
Peru | Aug 11 - Aug 19, 2017

Janice
Janice H.
Charlotte, NC | Reviewed on Aug 21, 2017

I had a great first experience with KimKim. I told others about it before even going on my trip. I began to fear it was too good to be true.... no, it was great from start to finish. I was regularly surprised with more than expected... more supported and more amenities than I thought.

I generally interacted with Nicole. She was very responsive, often responding within the hour or early morning after a late night inquiry. She alerted me to a period of a few days where she would be unavailable. Our short notice trip went off without a hitch.

Local specialist: Nicole and Bill Koch
Nicole and Bill
Nicole and Bill Koch
Local specialist in Cusco, Peru | Replied on Aug 25, 2017

Thanks Janice. We were happy to create this trip for you and your son! Take care and Safe Travels.
Nicole

Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu
Peru | Aug 4 - Aug 14, 2017

M
Mark B.
| Reviewed on Aug 19, 2017
Planning and booking the trip was easy. KimKim connected us with a great tour provider, and always responded quickly to questions and requests. It's rare to find a tour organizer really dedicated to creating a perfect experience, but that's the impression we had with Nicole and Haku. It's not the cheapest option, but hearing about others who had trekked with larger groups we are happy with our decision. Our guide Josias was experienced, patient and a great companion for the 6 days. We... Read more

Planning and booking the trip was easy. KimKim connected us with a great tour provider, and always responded quickly to questions and requests.

It's rare to find a tour organizer really dedicated to creating a perfect experience, but that's the impression we had with Nicole and Haku. It's not the cheapest option, but hearing about others who had trekked with larger groups we are happy with our decision.

Our guide Josias was experienced, patient and a great companion for the 6 days. We stayed in comfortable lodges in epic locations, and really enjoyed the meal on the final night.

There were no hidden costs or surprises, and every detail was covered. This truly allowed us to enjoy one of the best hiking trails in the world.

Local specialist: Nicole and Bill Koch
Nicole and Bill
Nicole and Bill Koch
Local specialist in Cusco, Peru | Replied on Sep 22, 2017

Thanks Mark. Salkantay is an amazing trip and I am so glad you could enjoy it!

Quick trip for an epic hike
Peru | Aug 11 - Aug 15, 2017

Blair
Blair S.
Charlotte, NC | Reviewed on Aug 17, 2017

I only received the one company as an option. Not sure if KimKim restricts the replies to the first company or if only the one company was interested in responding but it would have been good to get multiple companies to reply.

James was great to work with and was VERY fast to respond to questions and concerns.

Local specialist: James M
James
James M
Local specialist in Cusco, Peru | Replied on Aug 18, 2017
Hi Blair, thanks for your review, was great to have you both with us & from what I've heard from the guide we're really pleased you had a great trek.
Kimkim will always match travelers with the specialist in the destination who best matches the specific request. In this way travelers always get the best advice and experience based on their trip or expedition requirements.
It would have been good to hear your thoughts on the trek itself & the service you experienced during your trip. It's an...
Read more

Hi Blair, thanks for your review, was great to have you both with us & from what I've heard from the guide we're really pleased you had a great trek.
Kimkim will always match travelers with the specialist in the destination who best matches the specific request. In this way travelers always get the best advice and experience based on their trip or expedition requirements.
It would have been good to hear your thoughts on the trek itself & the service you experienced during your trip. It's an epic trek & we hope it matched your expectations. We would love to help you out again if you're down this way in future. Please keep in touch, best James

Lima and Machu picchu
Peru | Jul 26 - Aug 2, 2017

D
Danica P.
Australia | Reviewed on Aug 04, 2017

We had a couple of minor hiccups with miscommunication causing delays but Diego always tried to make things right and waited in our hotel lobby to personally apologize. Other than that great service.

Local specialist:
Diego
Diego Leon
Local specialist in Cusco | Replied on Oct 04, 2017

Hello Danica!

We are sorry for those inconvenient but glad that you enjoyed your trip.

P.D. Your photos look great!

Diego

13 days, Salk, Biking, Horseback
Peru | Jul 14 - Jul 26, 2017

H
Herman V.
PA | Reviewed on Jul 30, 2017
We just came back from a hiking trip to Macchu Picchu in Peru via the Salkantay route with HakuExpeditions wich we had booked via kimkim earlier this year. Our trekking along Salkantay as well as the visit to Macchu Picchu were just awesome. Nicole from Haku Expeditions was very flexible in setting up our itinerary and upon arrival in Cusco she organized a briefing with our trekking guides. The guides were absolutely fantastic. Both were very friendly and helpful, and had tremendous... Read more

We just came back from a hiking trip to Macchu Picchu in Peru via the Salkantay route with HakuExpeditions wich we had booked via kimkim earlier this year. Our trekking along Salkantay as well as the visit to Macchu Picchu were just awesome. Nicole from Haku Expeditions was very flexible in setting up our itinerary and upon arrival in Cusco she organized a briefing with our trekking guides.

The guides were absolutely fantastic. Both were very friendly and helpful, and had tremendous knowledge about the trek, the culture and environment. We did not trek by tent but from cabin to cabin. The accommodations were basic and clean, typically for what I've expected on a trek like this (no unnecessary luxury - but a good bed and a good hot shower every day). The food was above expectations. The Peruvian cuisine at high altitude, on the beaten track, tasted so delicious that we hiked almost every day without even having to rely on our snacks during the hike in between the main meals, there was plenty of good food and great hospitality. Definitely a trip we would like to do over sometime.

Local specialist: Nicole and Bill Koch
Nicole and Bill
Nicole and Bill Koch
Local specialist in Cusco, Peru | Replied on Sep 22, 2017

Herman it was wonderful to meet you and your family. Thanks for coming to Peru and allowing us to create a custom trip for your family!

Hiking in Peru
Peru | Jun 5 - Jun 11, 2017

J
Jennifer S.
Canada | Reviewed on Jul 15, 2017
I wish we could have kept the same guide throughout the entire experience. Our first guide, Reuben, saw us through the Choquequirao trek (which was fantastic) but we had a different guide for Machu Picchu and unfortunately he wasn't nearly as good. After several days on the trail with Reuben, we were very comfortable with him and his team, and it was jarring to switch to someone new on the last days of the trip. Overall, booking with Bill and Nicole was great. Nicole was always in contact... Read more

I wish we could have kept the same guide throughout the entire experience. Our first guide, Reuben, saw us through the Choquequirao trek (which was fantastic) but we had a different guide for Machu Picchu and unfortunately he wasn't nearly as good. After several days on the trail with Reuben, we were very comfortable with him and his team, and it was jarring to switch to someone new on the last days of the trip.

Overall, booking with Bill and Nicole was great. Nicole was always in contact making sure we had what we needed (she even gave me advice on which restaurants were good, what to pack to deal with the constantly changing weather in Peru, etc). It put my mind at ease being able to have such an open dialogue with her up right up until the day we left for the trip. That is definitely not something you get when booking through a regular travel agent.

I have nothing but great things to say about Bill and Nicole. They were easy-going, helpful and always willing to answer our questions. As I mentioned previously, the open communication with them throughout the planning stages of this trip really helped us prepare properly for the trek. I felt like we experienced Peru from a 'locals' perspective rather than a 'tourists' perspective thanks to their tips and suggestions. I would have loved it if they could have accompanied our hiking guide, Reuben, when he met with us to conduct the 'briefing'... actually I would have loved it if they could have come with us on the hike itself! They are such good people and did a great job helping us plan this trip.

Local specialist: Nicole and Bill Koch
Nicole and Bill
Nicole and Bill Koch
Local specialist in Cusco, Peru | Replied on Jul 16, 2017
Hi Jen, Thanks for the fantastic review! This comment is so sweet of you. We wish we could go too! (Jen:) I would have loved it if they could have accompanied our hiking guide, Reuben, when he met with us to conduct the 'briefing'... actually I would have loved it if they could have come with us on the hike itself! They are such good people and did a great job helping us plan this trip. Thanks again! By the way, we would have loved to have Ruben with you in Machu Picchu. He is such a great... Read more

Hi Jen, Thanks for the fantastic review! This comment is so sweet of you. We wish we could go too! (Jen:) I would have loved it if they could have accompanied our hiking guide, Reuben, when he met with us to conduct the 'briefing'... actually I would have loved it if they could have come with us on the hike itself! They are such good people and did a great job helping us plan this trip.

Thanks again! By the way, we would have loved to have Ruben with you in Machu Picchu. He is such a great guide. However, he was already booked for another trek. We just didn't have any other choice.
Keep in touch and safe travels.

Ausangate Nevada Trek
Peru | Jul 4 - Jul 11, 2017

Mark
Mark F.
the Netherlands | Reviewed on Jul 12, 2017

An amazing job by the entire Quechua Treks team. From all of James's work picking the trek. Then preparing for it, to Mayra's work leading us on the trip it was simply amazing. I plan to use Quechua for any future trips to South America. I consider them a tremendous resource to have access to and will suggest that any of my friends looking do something in South America contact them.

As mentioned earlier James's responsiveness was tremendous. He seemed to be available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. No question went unanswered for long.

Local specialist: James M
James
James M
Local specialist in Cusco, Peru | Replied on Jul 14, 2017

Hi Mark, thanks for your review. Was great to have you here with us & the crew enjoyed the tour with you. Some great photos from it, I think you picked the best trek! All the best for your travels this year, and enjoy the trekking in Switzerland. Keep in touch.

Peru Travel
Peru | Jun 24 - Jul 3, 2017

J
Justin B.
| Reviewed on Jul 05, 2017
Nicole provided my friends and I with a vacation for the history books. First of all, the planning stage was a breeze. After mentioning a rough idea of what we wanted to hit in Peru, Nicole came back instantly with a draft itinerary. After some minor tweaks, it was set. In the weeks leading up to the trip, Nicole was only a quick Whatsapp away to answer all questions, and she would immediately respond. The trip was just as smooth. In Cusco to Ollantaytambo, our beautiful colonial Airbnb was... Read more

Nicole provided my friends and I with a vacation for the history books. First of all, the planning stage was a breeze. After mentioning a rough idea of what we wanted to hit in Peru, Nicole came back instantly with a draft itinerary. After some minor tweaks, it was set. In the weeks leading up to the trip, Nicole was only a quick Whatsapp away to answer all questions, and she would immediately respond. The trip was just as smooth. In Cusco to Ollantaytambo, our beautiful colonial Airbnb was comfortable and in a perfect location. Our English-speaking drivers and guides were on time and extremely nice. From exploring ruins, biking through the Andes, whipping ATVs, zip lining in the Sacred Valley, hiking to the top of Machu Picchu, among countless other adventures, the trip was effortless as Nicole thought of everything. She was just as responsive in Peru, ready to lend food and other suggestions at every turn. She even hooked us up with an amazing contact for our stay in Lima. I would recommend anyone looking for a genuine adventure to use her services.

Local specialist: Nicole and Bill Koch
Nicole and Bill
Nicole and Bill Koch
Local specialist in Cusco, Peru | Replied on Jul 08, 2017

Thanks Justin! It was a pleasure helping you out. We had a fun time biking with you guys as well. Take care and safe travels!

Trip to Peru
Peru | Jun 16 - Jun 28, 2017

Lydia
Lydia E.
FL | Reviewed on Jun 29, 2017

Excellent planning! Amazing guides!

Very organized! Well planned

Local specialist: Steve Wilson
Steve
Steve Wilson
Local specialist in Cusco, Peru; Dunedin, New Zealand; Rothenburg ob der Tauber, Germany | Replied on Sep 22, 2017

Hola Sandy, thank you kindly for your review! I'm delighted that you and your family had an amazing time in Peru. What a stunning day you had at Machu Picchu - look at that sky!! It was a pleasure helping you design and plan your trip, and Katy and I are glad you enjoyed the company and leadership of Luis, your Aspiring Adventures guide. We hope you'll return to Peru some day!
Kind regards,
Steve, Aspiring Adventures

Peru 2017 - Family Trip for Robert Bass
Peru | Jun 8 - Jun 20, 2017

R
Robert B.
Fort Lauderdale, FL | Reviewed on Jun 22, 2017
I have had the opportunity of planning travel with several established companies previously, ie Backroads, Vermont BicycleTours, Costa Rica Expeditions. The experience we had with Quechua Treks / Mayra was EXCEPTIONAL. She truly designed an itinerary specific for my family which was unique and certainly not the traditional Inca Trail/Machu Pichu visit. The opportunity to do the Lares Trek allowed us to see amazing countryside and visit with actual native folks. This was only possible because... Read more

I have had the opportunity of planning travel with several established companies previously, ie Backroads, Vermont BicycleTours, Costa Rica Expeditions. The experience we had with Quechua Treks / Mayra was EXCEPTIONAL. She truly designed an itinerary specific for my family which was unique and certainly not the traditional Inca Trail/Machu Pichu visit. The opportunity to do the Lares Trek allowed us to see amazing countryside and visit with actual native folks. This was only possible because of Mayra's long history in this area and mastery of the Quechuan dialect. We did not see other tourists for 3 days! We found her crew (horsemen , cooks) to be professional, friendly and very punctual. The specialty guides arranged for us were very knowledgeable, truly bilingual and obviously proud to show us their country, not just going through the motions. This trip involved multiple lodging and transportation connections which all took place seamlessly. Accommodations were described accurately and there were no unexpected "surprises" either in quality of lodging, food or additional expenses. Most importantly Mayra was enthusiastic, knowledgeable and flexible with our desires. She is genuine and professional and an outstanding representative for KIMKIM.

Local specialist: Mayra Callo
Mayra
Mayra Callo
Local specialist in Cusco | Replied on Apr 01, 2018

Thanks Robert,
It was our pleasure to have you and your beautiful family in Peru.
We are more than happy that you choose Lares Trek and you had the chance to experience the less touristy part of this country.
Sending you happy toughts across the miles.
Mayra

Inca Trail to Machu Picchu - 5-Day Itinerary
Peru | Jun 4 - Jun 17, 2017

G
Gretchen M.
Denver, CO | Reviewed on Jun 19, 2017

The Peru trip was amazing! It beat expectations and was a marvel on so many levels. Our guide, Aldo, was a huge bonus as he was an amazing person to spend two weeks with escorting us through his magical country.

Local specialist: Katy Shorthouse
Katy
Katy Shorthouse
Local specialist in Cusco, Peru | Replied on Sep 22, 2017

Hi Gretchen
Thanks so much for your kind words. It was a pleasure to organize a trip for you and your boys. We always aim to pass expectations and when Aldo's on the trip, we can't go wrong - he is indeed the eighth wonder of the world!
All the best for your future travels!
Katy

Peru Sacred Valley - Urubamba, Pisaq, Ollantaytambo
Peru | May 31 - May 31, 2017

C
Charles M.
St Louis, MO | Reviewed on Jun 08, 2017
The service provided was the best I have ever encountered. I highly recommend using the kimkim service in Peru and particularly Mayra and James MacKender. Mayra was terrific to work with. She was very responsive during a very difficult time in Peru. A strike in the Sacred Valley was announced for the same time I had booked a tour with kimkim. Mayra showed empathy and concern and worked with me to plan alternate contingencies and to keep me updated on the latest news. I heard from her... Read more

The service provided was the best I have ever encountered. I highly recommend using the kimkim service in Peru and particularly Mayra and James MacKender.

Mayra was terrific to work with. She was very responsive during a very difficult time in Peru. A strike in the Sacred Valley was announced for the same time I had booked a tour with kimkim. Mayra showed empathy and concern and worked with me to plan alternate contingencies and to keep me updated on the latest news. I heard from her from late at night to early in the morning. She stayed with me as things changed and I felt like she really cared about me and my trip. She made it happen, and our tour was completed and we arrived at Machu Picchu on time. She followed up afterward to make sure everything was okay.

Local specialist: Mayra Callo
Mayra
Mayra Callo
Local specialist in Cusco | Replied on Jun 14, 2017

Thanks, Charles, was a pleasure to have you with us. Glad we finally got the trip together that you wanted all along! Hope to see you back in Peru soon, best Mayra & James

Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu - 5 days
Peru | May 21 - May 25, 2017

K
Kimberlee C.
Australia | Reviewed on May 30, 2017
Nicole was excellent at organizing our trip. It was great to talk to a real person on the ground in Peru when I was booking from Australia. At first, our trip seemed expensive but now in hind sight considering everything it included and in comparison to other travelers we met along the way our trip was excellent value for money. Every aspect of our trip was organized we didn't have to worry about a thing. Our guide Josias was absolutely fantastic and really made the trip special. He spoke... Read more

Nicole was excellent at organizing our trip. It was great to talk to a real person on the ground in Peru when I was booking from Australia. At first, our trip seemed expensive but now in hind sight considering everything it included and in comparison to other travelers we met along the way our trip was excellent value for money. Every aspect of our trip was organized we didn't have to worry about a thing. Our guide Josias was absolutely fantastic and really made the trip special. He spoke fluent English and helped us translate along the way and told us fantastic history and facts about the region. The food and accommodation were excellent. After a hard day walking it was great to come home to a real warm bed. I am a coeliac and catering along the way was fantastic! We couldn't have had a better trip. We are so happy we chose to book with KimKim.

Nicole looked after all of our needs. She was very patient and always helpful. She helped us booked our salkantay trek and gave me information about other trips and options available.

Local specialist: Nicole and Bill Koch
Nicole and Bill
Nicole and Bill Koch
Local specialist in Cusco, Peru | Replied on Dec 21, 2017

Thanks so much Kim! We loved getting to know you guys. I am so glad you liked it. We love creating amazing memories for people. Keep in touch and take care.
Bill and Nicole

Will be in Cuzco aclimatizing for 4 days before hiking Inca Trail
Peru | May 2 - May 2, 2017

C
Charles M.
Gainesville, FL | Reviewed on May 11, 2017
Thank you Nichole and William, the guide Javier and our driver Marco were excellent. They were first and foremost good people, they were attentive, and knowledgeable about the people places and culture that we were exploring. We came expecting a trip from place to place with explanations and guidance, and instead were treated as friends being welcomed into a family home. They stopped every time we seemed interested in a landmark or even a beautiful field of Quinoa that we wanted to photograph... Read more

Thank you Nichole and William, the guide Javier and our driver Marco were excellent. They were first and foremost good people, they were attentive, and knowledgeable about the people places and culture that we were exploring. We came expecting a trip from place to place with explanations and guidance, and instead were treated as friends being welcomed into a family home. They stopped every time we seemed interested in a landmark or even a beautiful field of Quinoa that we wanted to photograph for memories. They showed us a wonderful part of Peru, and we are grateful for their time and effort.

You chose your people well, they made this excursion perfect.

Local specialist: Nicole and Bill Koch
Nicole and Bill
Nicole and Bill Koch
Local specialist in Cusco, Peru | Replied on May 11, 2017

Thanks Charles! We are glad you could feel at home here in Peru. We love making vacations amazing!

Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu - 5 days
Peru | Mar 21 - Mar 28, 2017

Rachel
Rachel R.
Canada | Reviewed on Apr 01, 2017

Everything was well organized and explained in the itinerary

They checked in in the trip when I was there and ensured everything went as planned

Local specialist: Nicole and Bill Koch
Nicole and Bill
Nicole and Bill Koch
Local specialist in Cusco, Peru | Replied on Dec 21, 2017

Thanks Rachel! I am glad your had a wonderful trip!
Nicole