Jesus Martel

We had the experience of a lifetime in Peru! Jesus was so helpful in planning our trip with the restraints that we gave him. He worked with us on fitting all of our desired excursions in our timeframe. There were occasional delays in response time, but communication overall was very timely. Some of the transportation/timing details were not entirely clear to us at times. For me, the more details the better, so I would've appreciated being told things like where our driver would be waiting for... read more

We had the experience of a lifetime in Peru! Jesus was so helpful in planning our trip with the restraints that we gave him. He worked with us on fitting all of our desired excursions in our timeframe. There were occasional delays in response time, but communication overall was very timely. Some of the transportation/timing details were not entirely clear to us at times. For me, the more details the better, so I would've appreciated being told things like where our driver would be waiting for us at the airport or what time we might expect to have free time to grab lunch on a given day. One big thing I was missing was transit time, as we often didn't know if we'd be in the car for 30 minutes or several hours until we actually got in the car and asked. I suggest always bringing extra snacks and water in case you're out and about longer than anticipated!

Here is how we spent our time in Peru!
1 free day in Lima: We walked around Miraflores and went to Museo Larco. The museum had lots of pre-Inca and Inca relics, which were so beautiful and fascinating. We had some trouble waiting on Uber rides and having them canceled, but we eventually got to where we wanted to go.
1 day in Cusco with walking tour: The flight from Lima to Cusco was short and sweet. We met our guide, Fredy, who would be with us for the rest of the week. The tour around Cusco was so interesting! We went during Holy Week, so we also got to see a huge gathering of people in the plaza celebrating. We got really good drinks at Museo del Pisco!
1 day exploring Incan ruins on the journey to Machu Picchu: Lots of really big rocks in really cool formations! One of our favorite parts of the whole trip was feeding the llamas, alpacas, and guanacos at Sulca. We got to participate in a traditional Inca dining experience called "pachamanca", which was so unique. When we finally got to Aguas Calientes outside of Machu Picchu, our hotel was right on the bank of a roaring river. We had a great dinner at Julian a couple doors down!
1 day at Machu Picchu: No words can describe this incredible experience. The views were just breathtaking! Afterwards, we explored Aguas Calientes a bit more and ended up renting swimsuits to go into the hot springs.
1 day hiking Palccoyo (unable to do Rainbow Mountain as originally planned): It was about a 4 hour drive to get here, which we didn't know until getting in the car. We also had to switch plans because Rainbow Mountain was closed due to disagreement among the communities. The hike was no joke in terms of elevation! The views were well worth the physical exertion, though. We had a beautiful picnic by a stream afterward, which was so lovely. When we got back to Cusco, we had dinner at Uchu, which was AMAZING!
1 free day in Cusco prior to departure: We got to explore more of the city and just take it all in before leaving :)

Hotel Review

Casa Andina Standard Machu Picchu

Machu Picchu, Cusco

Overall Rating

Hotel Review

Being right on the river was so fun! Super convenient location right near the train and bus stops.

Location

Cleanliness & Comfort

Staff

Authenticity & Character

Activity Review

Machu Picchu Exploration

Aguas Calientes/ Machu Picchu

Overall Rating

Activity Review

Fredy shared so much rich history with us as we took in the iconic views!

Transport

The bus trip is a bit unsettling at some points, but the bus drivers seem like they really know what they're doing.

Guides, drivers and staff

Quality of Experience

I cannot even begin to express how incredibly thankful my boyfriend and I feel to have found Jesus's team at KimKim for our trip to Peru. From our very first message with Jesus to the second we landed back in the U.S., we had just an amazing experience. In part due to the rich history and culture Peru has to offer, but mostly because of the wonderful people we met along the way. We had private transportation everywhere we went (Carlos, Jose, and San), who were always friendly, accommodating,... read more

I cannot even begin to express how incredibly thankful my boyfriend and I feel to have found Jesus's team at KimKim for our trip to Peru. From our very first message with Jesus to the second we landed back in the U.S., we had just an amazing experience. In part due to the rich history and culture Peru has to offer, but mostly because of the wonderful people we met along the way. We had private transportation everywhere we went (Carlos, Jose, and San), who were always friendly, accommodating, safe, and very hard working, and we were also paired with the best tour guides we could have ever asked for! Guido and Abel in Cusco both will be lifetime friends, they were incredibly knowledgeable, funny, and caring.
We were given all of the flexibility in the world by Jesus's team, which really helped keep the stress of a big/long trip at bay. We opted to arrange our own sleeping accommodations with the exception of a few nights, one of which we stayed with the sweetest local Andean family. Each day, we were able to choose within reason the time we wanted to start our day, there was never any rushing to be anywhere at a particular time. Every single day was a new adventure and we learned more than we were ready to! We spent 11 long days in Peru, but we still didn't want to leave. We miss the people, the food, the sites, but we are so thankful for the friendships and memories we made!

Activity Reviews

Machu Picchu Exploration

Aguas Calientes/ Machu Picchu

Overall Rating

Transport

Guides, drivers and staff

Quality of Experience

Journey through the Vinicunca Rainbow Mountain: {{start_location}} to {{end_location}}

Peru

Overall Rating

Food

Transport

Guides, drivers and staff

Quality of Experience

Everything provided by Kimkim Travel (through Peruvian Soul in Peru) was perfect. I had some nervousness about using an agency since I usually travel independently, but with my wife and my advancing age, and her mobility challenges, I decided it was the best option for a trip to the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu. I was impressed with the attention we got, and the adaptation to our needs. First, communication, online and with whatsapp: Jesus must sleep at his keyboard, since every time I... read more

Everything provided by Kimkim Travel (through Peruvian Soul in Peru) was perfect. I had some nervousness about using an agency since I usually travel independently, but with my wife and my advancing age, and her mobility challenges, I decided it was the best option for a trip to the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu. I was impressed with the attention we got, and the adaptation to our needs. First, communication, online and with whatsapp: Jesus must sleep at his keyboard, since every time I had a question, concern, or panic, he responded, usually within minutes, although occasionally when at night, it was the first thing in the morning. Likewise, Carlos, who handled airport pickups/dropoffs, and Julio, our personal guide for 4 days from Cusco to Machu Picchu and back, were equally responsive and helpful. Beyond communication, Julio was a font of knowledge, adapted the tour to our needs, attentive, and facilitated numerous accommodations for my wife that made our Machu Picchu experience possible. In Lima, we also enjoyed the services of Abraham for a few hours, and were pleased with his manner and helpfulness as well. The trip provided by Kimkim/Peruviansoul was well designed as a private conducted tour, very fairly priced, and conducted without a hitch. All the personnel were reliable and excellent. The hotels were great.

Our experience with kimkim and the Peruvian Soul team led by Jesus was fantastic! Jesus suggested a wonderful itinerary based on one conversation! We started with a bike tour in Lima and hit the most beautiful sites around the Sacred Valley and Cusco with knowledgeable and skilled guides. Alexis expertly led us on the one day Inca Trail and Machu Picchu and took us to stunning sites around the Sacred Valley. Besides hiking, we did stand up paddle boards on Piuray Lake, horseback riding around... read more

Our experience with kimkim and the Peruvian Soul team led by Jesus was fantastic! Jesus suggested a wonderful itinerary based on one conversation! We started with a bike tour in Lima and hit the most beautiful sites around the Sacred Valley and Cusco with knowledgeable and skilled guides. Alexis expertly led us on the one day Inca Trail and Machu Picchu and took us to stunning sites around the Sacred Valley. Besides hiking, we did stand up paddle boards on Piuray Lake, horseback riding around Apu Wanakaure (thank you Javier for being so patient with me), and wandered the narrow lanes of Cusco. We went to evening dance shows and fabulous restaurants. The finale was a visit to Rainbow Mountain!! We recommend going up by horse ;)
Many thanks to Jesus for organizing such a wonderful tour for us. We recommend him highly!! This was an unforgettable trip!!

Our trip to Peru was marvelous, in particular because our needs were catered for in every way beforehand by Jesus. Careful questions and answers resulted in an itinarary that proved to be well put together and balanced. The guides, in both Lima and Cusco, were very knowledgable re the local history and cultures informing us each step of the way what to look for and why. All the hotels were well managed, clean and comfortable. All transport went smoothly and on time; Air, Rail, Road and... read more

Our trip to Peru was marvelous, in particular because our needs were catered for in every way beforehand by Jesus. Careful questions and answers resulted in an itinarary that proved to be well put together and balanced. The guides, in both Lima and Cusco, were very knowledgable re the local history and cultures informing us each step of the way what to look for and why. All the hotels were well managed, clean and comfortable. All transport went smoothly and on time; Air, Rail, Road and horseback!
Difficult to single out highlights from so many but; the three lunch locations on the cycle tour with Luis, the day at Machu Picchu with Julio and a days horse ride with Javier were voted the top three by us. Julio in particular gave us so much insight to Peruvian culture for which we will forever be grateful.

My husband and I visited Peru for our honeymoon in October. Jesus and his team at Peruvian Soul planned the perfect trip! We began our trip in Lima, traveled to Paracas, and then returned to Lima before making our way to Cusco, the Sacred Valley, and Machu Picchu. Having all of our transfers and transportation pre-arranged by Jesus/Peruvian Soul allowed us to relax and focus on enjoying the sites and culture.

Peruvian Soul’s tour guides and affiliated tour experts provided invaluable... read more

My husband and I visited Peru for our honeymoon in October. Jesus and his team at Peruvian Soul planned the perfect trip! We began our trip in Lima, traveled to Paracas, and then returned to Lima before making our way to Cusco, the Sacred Valley, and Machu Picchu. Having all of our transfers and transportation pre-arranged by Jesus/Peruvian Soul allowed us to relax and focus on enjoying the sites and culture.

Peruvian Soul’s tour guides and affiliated tour experts provided invaluable guidance, insights, and local experiences to enhance our trip. In Cusco and the Sacred Valley, we had the same guide for several days, Julio. His spirit and pride in the local culture and history is contagious! Our Andean Wedding was one of the special highlights that Peruvian Soul and Julio coordinated for us. It was truly a spiritual, unique, and unforgettable moment that connected us with the beautiful landscape and living history of the Andean people.

Another highlight was hiking Machu Picchu. Even though it was raining, our guide Eddy brought a positive attitude to the day and showed us a great time. We also recommend people see the less visited Paracas and Ballestas Islands, where we had a helpful guide, Alexander. This area is very remote and filled with beautiful vistas of deserts and wildlife, such as penguins, sea lions, cormorants, and terns. In Lima, we enjoyed exploring what is a modern, cosmopolitan capital city. The food was awesome throughout Peru, but especially in Lima. For a high-end treat, Kjolle located next to the famous Central restaurant, our dinner there was one of the best meals of our lives.

Each day in Peru brought a new adventure. Now we know why everyone recommends to pack layers—each day we experienced a wide range of temperatures. Also, note that the sun is very strong even on chilly days.

Overall, we had an amazing honeymoon and would recommend Peruvian Soul to anyone visiting Peru for the first time!

Jesus organised my family the trip of a lifetime. I went with my wife and 5 children over 3 weeks. We arrived in Lima then went to Paracas, on to Cusco and The sacred Valley, then back to Lima and on to Mancora for some beach time.
All the local guides were excellent that Jesus organised. All transport was of good quality and prompt.
All went perfectly thank you Jesus !

My daughter and I really enjoyed our trip. The connections were seamless and always on time. The best part of the trip were our guides. They were all well informed, interesting, and just plain fun to hang out with. I would highly recommend Kim-kim.
Matthew

Booking our trip to Peru through kimkim could not have been easier! With the help of Jesus, we planned a custom trip to accommodate our time constraints and so we could see exactly what we wanted to. All of the guides were friendly and knowledgeable. We definitely recommend kimkim and will be using them again in the future!

Wow!!! What a great experience we had in Peru using KimKim! It was a bit overwhelming to try to figure out hotels, excursions, local guides on my own, so I started looking for help online. Finding KimKim and especially our local contact Jesus made ALL of the difference. We had a FANTASTIC trip with a great itinerary of hotels and activities. We did a half day of zip line, we visited the salt pools. Of course we had a fabulous day at Machu Picchu. One surprise - the horseback riding in the... read more

Wow!!! What a great experience we had in Peru using KimKim! It was a bit overwhelming to try to figure out hotels, excursions, local guides on my own, so I started looking for help online. Finding KimKim and especially our local contact Jesus made ALL of the difference. We had a FANTASTIC trip with a great itinerary of hotels and activities. We did a half day of zip line, we visited the salt pools. Of course we had a fabulous day at Machu Picchu. One surprise - the horseback riding in the hills above Cusco was a huge hit with the family.

I highly recommend Jesus and KimKim. The communication during the planning phase was outstanding. Jesus even helped us recover a Kindle that my wife left in a hotel. He went above and beyond to make our trip special and unfortgettable.

Due to craziness at work, I had zero bandwidth to pull together any of the details for our trip to Peru. Thankfully, Jesus of Peruvian Soul took care of everything. He put together a lovely itinerary for me and my 9 year old that balanced our respective needs, helped us connect with the history and beauty of the Andes, and allowed us to explore the natural wonders of the Amazon. He arranged all of our hotels, site tickets, and in-country flights. Every detail was well-communicated. Transfers... read more

Due to craziness at work, I had zero bandwidth to pull together any of the details for our trip to Peru. Thankfully, Jesus of Peruvian Soul took care of everything. He put together a lovely itinerary for me and my 9 year old that balanced our respective needs, helped us connect with the history and beauty of the Andes, and allowed us to explore the natural wonders of the Amazon. He arranged all of our hotels, site tickets, and in-country flights. Every detail was well-communicated. Transfers were seamless. And the little extras were much appreciated. For example, during our last day in the jungle, I realized that I would need to figure out a way to make productive use of a 6 hour layover in Lima the next day to get fresh clothes and a hot shower. Jesus found a hotel near the airport that provided these services at a very reasonable cost. Thank you, Jesus, for an amazing adventure!

Our trip to Peru is one of our top 5 trips ever taken (and we have done a lot of traveling). In large part the reason this trip was so good is because of the excellent itinerary, seamless transitions and transportation to each of our destinations, and wonderful accommodations. We started our trip in Lima - we arrived in the morning after an evening flight from the states. We were picked up from the airport and taken to our hotel. From there we were on our own to explore the city which... read more

Our trip to Peru is one of our top 5 trips ever taken (and we have done a lot of traveling). In large part the reason this trip was so good is because of the excellent itinerary, seamless transitions and transportation to each of our destinations, and wonderful accommodations. We started our trip in Lima - we arrived in the morning after an evening flight from the states. We were picked up from the airport and taken to our hotel. From there we were on our own to explore the city which was easy to do. We stayed in the Miraflores neighborhood and explored that region on foot. We took a taxi to the historical part of the city. Taxis were easy to hail. On day 2 we flew from Lima to Puerto Maldonado where we explored the Amazon basin. We were met at the airport by our hotel greeting party and were taken by boat to our lodge - Inkaterra. Here we stayed in delightful cabins equipped with hamocks (as well as beds of course) where we could lay down and relax and watch the river flow by. From the hotel we were able to do several excursions led by our excellent guide, Michel. We saw all kinds of rainforest flora and fauna, walked across rope bridges in the rainforest canopy and learned about the food and medicinal gifts of the rainforest. We spent about 2 full days in the rainforest and one more would have been good but we were on a tight 9 day schedule. From the rainforest we headed to the mountains. We landed in Cuzco and then were taken down to our hotel in Urumbamba - lower elevation to help with adjusting to the altitude. The whole family took Diamox before getting to Cuzco and we all avoided altitude sickness. We stayed in a fabulous hotel called Sol y Luna. On our second day in the sacred valley we took part in the Llama pack project. This involved trekking and herding llamas up the side of a mountain. After a breathless but beautiful hike, we stopped for lunch with the llamas which was delightful and then trekked back down the mountain. This experience was incredible and I would highly recommend it to any travelers to the Sacred Valley. The local llama herders who were with us have some llama/alpaca wool souvenirs to sell. If you are interested, make sure you have plenty of cash for the larger items (the prices are a bit high). The next day was spent exploring the other wonders of the sacred valley to include Inka farming site at Moray and the salt flats of Maras. Our guide Danny did a fantastic job teaching us the history of the Inkas as well as modern Peruvian culture. From the sacred valley we took the trip to Machu Picchu. The train ride to Ollantaytambo was very scenic and a small snack and drink were served. After a night in the hotel we boarded a bus and headed up the death defying road to Machu Picchu. Machu Picchu itself is indescribable and even more beautiful than pictures suggest. Danny again served as our guide through the site and let us take our time to take it all in all the while explaining to us one of the most amazing and mysterious civilizations of the world - the Inkas. That afternoon we made the trek back to Cuzco and spent the last day of our trip exploring this beautiful and culturally enchanting city. We were sad to leave this amazing country. All ground transportation was planned by Jesus. I bought the intra-country airline tickets (cheap) but Jesus helped me determine which flights to choose so the itinerary would work well. Reading the guide books, I found a trip to Peru intimidating but Kimkim and Peruvian Soul made it easy. The hardest part was deciding what we wanted to see - with only 9 days to see it.

I would say that the service received by Jesús Martel was beyond great. He coordinated a fantastic itinerary for our 6-day trip to Peru. Whenever I had a question, he replied immediately. If I needed a change in the plan and no matter how many questions I had, he replied promptly. In addition, he has a pleasant, positive and upbeat outlook and I would definitely recommend him to anyone and everyone. ¡Un millón de gracias, Jesús!
One of the guides who took us to historic downtown Lima and to... read more

I would say that the service received by Jesús Martel was beyond great. He coordinated a fantastic itinerary for our 6-day trip to Peru. Whenever I had a question, he replied immediately. If I needed a change in the plan and no matter how many questions I had, he replied promptly. In addition, he has a pleasant, positive and upbeat outlook and I would definitely recommend him to anyone and everyone. ¡Un millón de gracias, Jesús!
One of the guides who took us to historic downtown Lima and to the horseback riding tour is named Rodrigo. He was very knowledgeable about everything and pointed out many sites and anecdotes.
Diego Zimmerman was with us all the way when we requested a change in hotel. He is also polite and easy-going when confronted with our request!
I love, love, Peruvian Soul and would recommend it to anyone and everyone. I wouldn't have known about them if it wasn't for kimkim.
Thank you all!