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Nicholas Cino

Exploring the world and learning how vastly diverse it is has intrigued me since I was a kid. For as long as I can remember I’ve been planning to journey the world starting with my own country, now after 35 years of passionate traveling (and endless experiences) I can’t say I’m ready to move on to my next destination.
We’ve been blessed with a land that’s full of life, color, history, and adventure waiting at every corner. I hope I finish exploring Peru in my lifetime, and I’d like to invite you all to join us on this amazing journey.

What places and activities do you specialize in?

"We always tailor our trips according to our traveler's specific needs. We've been doing this all around Peru (North, Centre & South / Coast, Andes & Amazon) for over 10 years. Tailor-made trips can be very different, we've offered from crazy trips with people that wish to row around Lake Titicaca to high-end deluxe routes for chefs that wish to explore Peruvian Cuisine"

How did you get involved in travel?

"I've always thought that we are directly responsible for helping improve our neighborhood, city, and country (especially if you come from developing areas such as our Peru). I initially studied environmental engineering thinking to apply this. However, with time, I found that tourism was also a powerful tool towards sustainability and also for helping my country improve. It's not only a great way of helping but it is also a lot of fun and a constant learning experience as you meet and spend time with travelers from so many different cultures. "

Please share a unique travel experience you will never forget.

"Every year, for Christmas, we travel to remote communities in the Andes and try to take a little bit of Christmas to their kids. We take presents and spend a weekend playing games with them. A few years ago, we decide to go to a community called Tupe.
However, the road to Tupe ends about 2 hours before reaching the community. This meant that we had to hike up to the village with all the presents. A few kilometers before reaching the village we put on the Santa costume and had "Trekking Santa" arrive at Tupe carrying all his presents, an amazing experience for us and the kids."

Nicholas is part of the following groups: Peru Travel Agents
Top itineraries and travel advice
Family itineraries
Luxury itineraries

Recent trip reviews for Nicholas

Amazing Peru
Peru | Dec 23 - Dec 30, 2023

J
Jacqueline L.
Flagami, FL | Reviewed on Jan 05, 2024
The entire experience was wonderful. Nicholas could not have been more attentive and detailed in the pre-planning phase of our trip. He listened to our needs and wishes and created a perfect itinerary. All our guides, Dani, Ximena, Miguel, Willy were amazing. All showed great passion, were enthusiastic in explaining (some even brought books and brochures to explain i.e. Inka sites even in more detail), knowledgable and very proud of their country and history. Each of them created truly... Read more

The entire experience was wonderful. Nicholas could not have been more attentive and detailed in the pre-planning phase of our trip. He listened to our needs and wishes and created a perfect itinerary. All our guides, Dani, Ximena, Miguel, Willy were amazing. All showed great passion, were enthusiastic in explaining (some even brought books and brochures to explain i.e. Inka sites even in more detail), knowledgable and very proud of their country and history. Each of them created truly personalized experiences for us. Machu Picchu, Rainbow Mountain, The Andean Picnic, Lake Titicaca - we will never forget. All our drivers made us feel safe and were very pleasant; needless to say, the team was always on time!
Jesus checked in on our during our trip, to make sure we had a good time.
Thank you Kimkim team for making our vacation an unforgettable wonderful experience!

Hotel Review
GHL Hotel Lago Titicaca Puno
Lago Titicaca, Puno
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Afternoon Exploration of Machu Picchu
Afternoon Exploration of Machu Picchu
Aguas Calientes/ Machu Picchu

Dani was our guide at Machu Picchu. He was super knowledgeable, friendly and fun. We had an amazing day!

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Maras & Moray
Maras & Moray
Peru
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Vinicunca, The Rainbow Mountain
Vinicunca, The Rainbow Mountain
Cusco

Miguel was our tour guide and could not have been more kind and understanding. It was a tough hike and he made us feel comfortable and was very patient. The Andean Picnic he set up for us was absolutely amazing in a stunning site with mountain and valley views and lamas and alpacas watching us.

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Scenic Journey to from  {{start_location}} to {{end_location}}
Scenic Journey to from {{start_location}} to {{end_location}}
Peru

Willy was our tour guide and we enjoyed the drive from Cusco to Puno. The stops in-between were perfect and Willy was just wonderful.

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Sailing to the Uros Floating Islands & Taquile
Sailing to the Uros Floating Islands & Taquile
Puno

Wow, what an experience. Willy was our tour guide and while they were large tourist groups around those activities, Willy always found ways to escape and made us feel like individual travelers. We appreciated that

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
 Sillustani tombs
Sillustani tombs
Puno

Our last day with Willy. He explain the site I detail and made sure we got to the airport safe.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Ollantaytambo Village and Inca Site Exploration
Ollantaytambo Village and Inca Site Exploration
Peru
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Nicholas Cino

A perfect trip from beginning to end in Peru
Peru | May 5 - May 16, 2022

D
Debbie P.
Los Angeles, CA | Reviewed on May 18, 2022
Our travel specialist, Nicholas Cino, was a joy to work with. We spent approximately 6 months planning our trip and had multiple calls and e-mail exchanges during the process. All the planning paid off and our 13 day trip was memorable and everything and more that we had wished for. Nico was very patient about answering our many questions and flexible when we wanted to change things. Nico has a unique personal touch that showed in all of our interactions.
Our guide in Cusco, the Sacred...
Read more

Our travel specialist, Nicholas Cino, was a joy to work with. We spent approximately 6 months planning our trip and had multiple calls and e-mail exchanges during the process. All the planning paid off and our 13 day trip was memorable and everything and more that we had wished for. Nico was very patient about answering our many questions and flexible when we wanted to change things. Nico has a unique personal touch that showed in all of our interactions.
Our guide in Cusco, the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu was Jesus Galimberti and he was amazing. He was incredibly knowledgeable about Peru and it’s history and had a warm personality who was easy to spend lots of time with. We quickly felt like he was our friend as well as our guide (he also made good restaurant recommendations in Cusco).
We fell in love with Cusco, it’s rich history and both it’s Inca and colonial architecture. The Plaza de Armas, the cobblestone streets and alleys, sitting at a cafe watching people go by, it’s incredibly charming. The highlight of the trip without a doubt was Machu Picchu. Seeing pictures does not do it justice, the first sight takes your breath away and it is simply awe inspiring. You can’t believe the advanced building techniques and degree of precision that the Incas possessed.
Our last 3 days were spent in the Amazon Rainforest and getting there is an adventure in itself. We saw several species of monkeys and birds including colorful macaws, went on a sunset cruise and a experienced an intense jungle rainstorm.
Our trip was a resounding success and we highly recommend Nicholas and KimKim.

Local specialist: Nicholas Cino
Nicholas
Nicholas Cino
Local specialist in Peru | Replied on May 24, 2022

Hi guys! Thanks for the lovely review! It was a pleasure to help you organize the trip and finally get to meet you too! You are awesome travelers, hopefully we'll see you again some time to show you all the hidden treasures in Northern Peru!

All the best,

Nicho

Our trip to Peru was simply amazing!!
Peru | Jan 25 - Feb 2, 2022

M
MJ O.
Bradenton, FL | Reviewed on Feb 25, 2022
Our trip to Peru was simply amazing!! We've never been to South America and we decided that the first country we should visit would be Peru after doing some research. We are so happy that we went with Peruvian Soul because it made logistics in the country really easy and we visited places that we would have probably never thought to go to. Not to mention that we met amazing people in Peruvian Soul that treated us like friends. We never used a travel agency for trips since we typically do... Read more

Our trip to Peru was simply amazing!! We've never been to South America and we decided that the first country we should visit would be Peru after doing some research. We are so happy that we went with Peruvian Soul because it made logistics in the country really easy and we visited places that we would have probably never thought to go to. Not to mention that we met amazing people in Peruvian Soul that treated us like friends. We never used a travel agency for trips since we typically do all the planning, but this time it was nice to have some help with planning the entire trip from accommodations, covid testing, flights, and setting an itinerary that was both adventurous, cultural, fun, and relaxing.

The trip was to celebrate a birthday and everything was great! Our accommodations were nice and Nicholas was so helpful and communicative from start to finish. He picked us up from the airport and gave us a nice welcome package which consisted of hand sanitizer, a face mask, snacks, and a cool tote bag. We only got to see Nicholas once, but we were in constant contact with him during our trip via What's App.

We started in Lima and stayed in a cute boutique hotel (Casa Republica) in Barranco for 2 nights. The service there was great and it was cool to be in a historic mansion right near the water (seriously it was steps away). We were able to catch the sunset which was beautiful. There is also a cool rooftop bar at the hotel and we received complimentary Pisco Sours which were so good! When we left, the staff gave us Coco tea because they knew we were flying to Cusco which was very thoughtful. They also gave us breakfast to go in addition to the tea.

When we arrived in Cusco, we saw Julio who is such a genuine and nice person. He is incredibly knowledgeable of Cusco and could tell us anything about Cusco. We did many tours with Julio which included seeing Moray Terraces, Maras Salt Mines, and Ollantaytambo. In Ollantaytambo, we were able to experience a traditional meal cooked in the ground using stones which was awesome! The restaurant has food that comes straight from their garden and it was so good and cool to have that experience. We also tried different types of Piscos and coffee and the owner was quite the character!

After Cusco, we were finally in Aguas Calientes to prepare for Machu Picchu the following day. We met Eddy from Peruvian Soul who gave us the rundown for Machu Picchu. Eddy is funny and super nice. The hotel we stayed in was near the water and it was really nice. Again, the staff was so helpful and accommodating during our stay. Their breakfast was also really delicious! Eddy was our guide for Machu Picchu and it was cool to learn about the mystical place that is Machu Picchu. We went during rainy season, but luckily it was a clear day for us! It was also very peaceful because we went really early in the morning and not too many people were there.

After Machu Picchu, we were going back to Cusco for a night and we were met by our awesome driver. We thought we were going back to the hotel, but we made a surprise stop in Chinchero in the Sacred Valley. We saw Julio there, and went with the flow of the trip. We met some women there that explained how they make and dye their items for sell which was cool and informative. After that, Julio came out with a birthday cake and candles and everyone was singing Happy Birthday which was so thoughtful and unexpected! The women also blessed us with yellow flowers and it was such a special moment. The women also sang a song in their native language which we greatly appreciated. What a great way to spend a birthday! It was a great experience and probably one of the more memorable moments of the entire trip. Before we left Cusco, Julio gave us two bulls which represent good luck which was soo nice of him!

Our final location was Tumbes so we could relax at the beach. We were met by our driver Gaston who gave us water and was really nice (everyone in Peruvian Soul is soooo nice!!). We had a long drive so we talked and got to know more about him as a person. We stayed in Punta Sal resort and had a bungalow right on the beach! The bungalow, food, staff, and view were amazing! We are so grateful that Nicholas added Tumbes to our trip! We truly enjoyed the beach and the food!

All in all, Peru is such an amazing country and there is something for everyone! Peruvian Soul made the trip very memorable and we feel like we can always reach out to them whenever we are back. We had so much fun and the team was so thoughtful and helpful. We recommend Peru to everyone we know now, and we definitely suggest Peruvian Soul as agency if need be. We had such a great time and we definitely want to come back!!!

Hotel Review
Casa República
Barranco, Lima

This hotel was super cute and the staff was so nice and helpful! We were also near the water and it was so nice to view the sunset and be able to get back to our hotel with 2 minutes or less!

Tips for future travelers

Stay here!

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Local specialist: Nicholas Cino
Nicholas
Nicholas Cino
Local specialist in Peru | Replied on Feb 25, 2022

Hi guys! Thanks for the great review! ;)
It was a pleasure having you with us and even more so meeting you in person! If you are ever craving another ceviche or a hike in the mountains (with Julito of course!), you can always find us here at Kim Kim! :)

Best

Nicho

Breathtaking and Amazing!
Galapagos Islands | Jun 17 - Jun 29, 2021

S
Sean F.
Austin, TX | Reviewed on Jul 09, 2021
Peruvian Soul is amazing!! They crafted a truly unique dream vacation to Machu Picchu and the Galapagos. Nicholas and the entire team navigated the challenges of Covid in the most exceptional ways and took all the stress away to experience a dream vacation of a lifetime. Julio is a world class guide who lead our trip through Peru. We got to see the sunrise over the Temple of Sun near the solstice and we got to see the full effect and connect with the ancient Incas through this shared... Read more

Peruvian Soul is amazing!! They crafted a truly unique dream vacation to Machu Picchu and the Galapagos. Nicholas and the entire team navigated the challenges of Covid in the most exceptional ways and took all the stress away to experience a dream vacation of a lifetime. Julio is a world class guide who lead our trip through Peru. We got to see the sunrise over the Temple of Sun near the solstice and we got to see the full effect and connect with the ancient Incas through this shared experience. The Galapagos was also amazing, and the team took care of the intricacies of traveling there so we could enjoy swimming with Penguins worry free! Truly remarkable, I highly recommend Peruvian Soul.

Local specialist: Nicholas Cino
Nicholas
Nicholas Cino
Local specialist in Peru | Replied on Jul 10, 2021

Thanks, Sean! Despite de long wait due to Covid, it has been so much fun planning this with you, and it makes us so happy that you enjoyed your time with us! I hope to see you guys again sometime.
All the best,

Nicholas

Cusco Region with Julio...
Peru | Mar 7 - Mar 12, 2020

Andrew
Andrew L.
Atlanta, GA | Reviewed on Mar 16, 2020
Julio was an excellent tour guide who grew up in the Cusco region and was like traveling with a family friend. He was knowledgeable about the various ruins we visited and provided great advice on dietary choices and knew when to push and when to back off on physical challenges with the high altitude. Our five days of hiking allowed for a good understanding of the region along with the natural resources, the local food and the people. This trip was customized to our desires by KimKim and I... Read more

Julio was an excellent tour guide who grew up in the Cusco region and was like traveling with a family friend. He was knowledgeable about the various ruins we visited and provided great advice on dietary choices and knew when to push and when to back off on physical challenges with the high altitude. Our five days of hiking allowed for a good understanding of the region along with the natural resources, the local food and the people. This trip was customized to our desires by KimKim and I could not imagine a better experience in this region. Machu Picchu was awesome but our 15 mile hike from Chinchero to Coya was truly the highlight. Judeas, our driver, was always prompt and professional. A great vacation!

Local specialist: Nicholas Cino
Nicholas
Nicholas Cino
Local specialist in Peru | Replied on Mar 16, 2020

Hi Andrew!
Thanks for the great review. I've very happy you had a great time with Julio! He is great! And I makes me really happy too that you liked our trip layout! Huchuyqosqo is a great hike! Good job with it! Next time you must try our Ausangate hike!
All the best, Nicholas

self guided drive
Peru | Aug 26 - Sep 9, 2019

S
Steve K.
Union, MO | Reviewed on Sep 12, 2019
KimKim is a brilliant idea expertly executed. How to find the perfect in-country help for just the kind of travel you prefer? Ask KimKim. They put us in touch with Nicho and Diego at Peruvian Soul for our self-drive, self-guided trip in Peru. And while driving yourself in Peru is not recommended, we set out anyway to discover that it's true that the worst drivers in the world are Peruvian. But Nicho checked on us almost every day, and we did fine. At Machu Picchu, Peruvian Soul had arranged... Read more

KimKim is a brilliant idea expertly executed. How to find the perfect in-country help for just the kind of travel you prefer? Ask KimKim. They put us in touch with Nicho and Diego at Peruvian Soul for our self-drive, self-guided trip in Peru. And while driving yourself in Peru is not recommended, we set out anyway to discover that it's true that the worst drivers in the world are Peruvian. But Nicho checked on us almost every day, and we did fine. At Machu Picchu, Peruvian Soul had arranged our tickets and Wilson, our guide. The experience could not have been better. Wilson was friendly, knowledgeable and flexible. Peg suffered from altitude sickness and had to miss some of the recomended highlights but got to know the towns a little better. Peruvian Soul gets 10 out of 10.

Local specialist: Nicholas Cino
Nicholas
Nicholas Cino
Local specialist in Peru | Replied on Sep 12, 2019

Hi Steve!
Thanks for the nice comments! It was a pleasure having you here and spending some time with you and Peggy! You are both great travelers!
I know our driving is "a bit" crazy but I'm sure you'll soon see we have some tough competitors for the "worst drivers award" in other parts of the globe hehe. Regardless you guys coped with the challenges pretty well and I hope the stunning views as you drove through the Andes were well worth the effort!
All the best from Peru,
Nicho

Get to know Part of Peru by car
Peru | Aug 5 - Aug 18, 2019

Sofia
Sofia S.
Portugal | Reviewed on Sep 04, 2019
Dear all,
It’s not today that I going to review my experience. But just to let you know that it was by far the most incredible trip that we made. It was not just about the place itself since there are incredible places all around the world, but it was the way you all took care of us. You know when you go to a place and there is a family relative that knows you and he provides not only what you need but also surprises you all the time? That’s how we felt all the time!
Question:
Are...
Read more

Dear all,
It’s not today that I going to review my experience. But just to let you know that it was by far the most incredible trip that we made. It was not just about the place itself since there are incredible places all around the world, but it was the way you all took care of us. You know when you go to a place and there is a family relative that knows you and he provides not only what you need but also surprises you all the time? That’s how we felt all the time!
Question:
Are all the agency’s that you work with like Peruvian Soul?
If so you have made a difference in the traveling world!!!!

Local specialist: Nicholas Cino
Nicholas
Nicholas Cino
Local specialist in Peru | Replied on Sep 04, 2019

Hello Sofia!
Thanks for the awesome review! :)
It makes us really happy that you had such a great time with us and that you see us this way! We really do our best to try and show you the "soul" of our country and that you take a great experience back home. I would have loved the meet you and the family, unfortunately, this time it wasn't to be, however I think Anne and the rest of the team did a great job right!?
Whenever you feel like visiting Peru again you now have good friends here!
All the best,
Nicho

Trip to Peru
Peru | May 17 - May 24, 2019

A
Ashley V.
Kent, OH | Reviewed on Jun 27, 2019
Such an incredible trip. Peru is a beautiful country in its landscapes and it’s culture. The whole vacation was amazing. Sacred Valley, Aguas Callientes, Cusco, and Lima, every part was unique and thoroughly enjoyable. Machu Picchu was obviously the highlight of the trip. Hiking to the Sun Gate was a little rough but absolutely breathtaking, totally worth it. Sacred Valley was probably our favorite part. The salt mines, moray terraces, Ollantantaytambo fortress, and of course the Pachamanca ... Read more

Such an incredible trip. Peru is a beautiful country in its landscapes and it’s culture. The whole vacation was amazing. Sacred Valley, Aguas Callientes, Cusco, and Lima, every part was unique and thoroughly enjoyable. Machu Picchu was obviously the highlight of the trip. Hiking to the Sun Gate was a little rough but absolutely breathtaking, totally worth it. Sacred Valley was probably our favorite part. The salt mines, moray terraces, Ollantantaytambo fortress, and of course the Pachamanca dinner was delicious. Kimkim made it possible to fully enjoy that with as little stress as possible. Our guides were amazing, Julio in Sacred Valley, Freddy in Cusco, and Cynthia in Lima. So friendly and knowledgeable. They made sure we were comfortable, happy, and well fed during our entire stay. The hotels were also great, very welcoming to go back to after a long day of sightseeing. Would definitely return to Peru and definitely recommend kimkim.

Local specialist: Nicholas Cino
Nicholas
Nicholas Cino
Local specialist in Peru | Replied on Jul 01, 2019

Hi Ashley!
Thanks so much for such kind reviews!
We are very glad that you had a wonderful trip Experience in Peru along with your travel partner as well as the best excursion with each tour guide, which were carefully selected for you to have a memorable Adventure.
We hope to be part of future trip Adventure to our country as it has a lot to show to visitors and you will be one of them 
Wish you all the best and stay in touch!
Greeting from Peruvian Soul and Kim Kim teams!

Grand Peru Adventure
Peru | May 1 - May 30, 2019

S
Suzanne N.
Austin, TX | Reviewed on May 31, 2019
Our thirty day tour of Peru was amazing! We visited Lima, Trujillo, Chiclayo, Chacapoyas, Tarapoto, Arequipa, Colca Canyon, Lake Titicaca, Cusco, Machu Picchu and Paracas, with excellent support from our local specialist, Nicholas, and each of our fantastic guides. Special thank yous go out to Henry, Gustavo and Julio, who taught us so much over several days, and made all of the pieces of our trip work together seamlessly. The best thing I can say about the trip is that there was not a... Read more

Our thirty day tour of Peru was amazing! We visited Lima, Trujillo, Chiclayo, Chacapoyas, Tarapoto, Arequipa, Colca Canyon, Lake Titicaca, Cusco, Machu Picchu and Paracas, with excellent support from our local specialist, Nicholas, and each of our fantastic guides. Special thank yous go out to Henry, Gustavo and Julio, who taught us so much over several days, and made all of the pieces of our trip work together seamlessly. The best thing I can say about the trip is that there was not a single place we visited, where I wouldn't have been happy to spend more time. We wanted a tour which included history, culture, food and nature, and the Peruvian Soul plan provided this, perfectly. It was an incredible trip for us, one we feel very lucky to have made with Peruvian Soul.

Local specialist: Nicholas Cino
Nicholas
Nicholas Cino
Local specialist in Peru | Replied on Jun 20, 2019

Hi Suzanne!
Sorry for the late reply. It makes me so happy that you had a nice time with us! Travelers like you guys, so eager to learn about a countries culture and nature make our job worthwhile! ;)

All the best,
Nicholas