Fantastic trip to Peru planned by Peruvian Soul
Peru
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May 4 - May 14, 2025
Just returned from an 11-day adventure in Peru planned by Anne Godoy of Peruvian Soul, the boutique travel specialist that KimKim introduced us to. There were four of us, all women ranging in age from 60 to 70. The trip was fantastic from beginning to end; action-packed and curated to our specific tastes. We spent several days in Lima, enjoying the art, culture and food (note that there are a handful of restaurants on the current "Best 50 restaurants in the world" in Lima!). Anne chose a wonderful, small boutique hotel for us in the hip Barranco district - Villa Barranco - which we loved. Special shout-out to the multi-talented Julio, who made the best pisco sours of the trip!! We then moved on to the Sacred Valley for several nights, blissed out at Sol y Luna, a gorgeous Relais & Chateaux property that Anne proposed. While in the Sacred Valley, we enjoyed a beautiful meal at a hacienda, visited a cooperative where we learned the secrets of backstrap weaving, made our own ceramic pieces, had a fabulous pachamanca and liquor distilling experience, hiked along the river from one town to another, visited Inca sites, and more! Then it was on to the incomparable Machu Picchu (it's even more beautiful and mystical than the photos we've all seen), via the luxury Hiram Bingham train (highly recommended!) and afterwards, Cusco for a couple of nights (Palacio del Inka hotel in Cusco was another highlight, again suggested by Anne). In the Sacred Valley, Machu Picchu and Cusco, we had a fantastic guide, Mario, and a warrior of a driver, Wilbur, both of whom kept us safe and well-informed, and ultimately became friends. One very important part of having a specialist plan a trip is the knowledge that if things go awry, you will be well taken care of. We had no large mishaps but a few minor ones did pop up (as they do on almost every adventure) and Peruvian Soul (thank you, Jesus!) and Mario were quick to find solutions and solve problems. I could not be happier with this trip, and highly recommend Peruvian Soul (and Anne Godoy) as top-notch trip planners.
Hotel Reviews
Villa Barranco in Lima was a delightful stay. This small boutique hotel was charming, beautiful, and well cared for. It was excellently located in the Barranco neighborhood, which I loved due to its charm. Villa Barranco offered everything one could possibly want without the unnecessary fluff of a large five-star hotel. It was exactly what I had hoped for, so I was thrilled.
Sol y Luna Hotel in the Sacred Valley was simply stunning, and everyone in our group loved it. The little casitas we stayed in were round and resembled yurts, making our stay so unique. While the food and drinks were a bit pricey, I didn't mind because it was a luxury property. The breakfast was included and fantastic. The grounds, including the pool and Jacuzzi area, were beautifully kept, and the staff was responsive. Overall, it was a beautiful place to stay.
Casa del Sol in Aguas Calientes was fine for a night's stay, though nothing extraordinary. It serves its purpose in a town that exists mainly for Machu Picchu visitors. We initially had issues with our Riverside room bookings, which were not as requested. However, the problem was eventually resolved, so we could stay comfortably. The Riverside view is exceptional, but the street view was not pleasant so I'd say it's worth staying here only if you have a Riverside room.
Palacio del Inka Cusco was a spectacular accommodation and one of the best of our trip. The property is gorgeous, being an old palace with original artwork.
Activity Reviews
The visit to the Parobamba community to learn about Andean textiles was amazing. It was a hands-on experience getting to dye baby alpaca wool and meeting the talented women behind the beautiful textiles. As someone interested in weaving, it felt unique and enriching.
The Pachamanca traditional Andean underground cooking experience in the Sacred Valley was wonderful. It was incredibly interesting to watch how they prepare such an incredible meal by cooking underground. The meal itself was fabulous. This activity stood out as a treasure of our trip.
Visiting Destilería Andina and making our own spirits was a fun and engaging activity. It gave us a hands-on opportunity to experience the unique culture of Peru.
The ceramic workshop was highly enjoyable. Each of us made our own pot aided by an expert ceramicist, which resulted in our creations being both pretty and useful.
Thank you so much for this wonderful review—it truly means a lot to us. It was such a pleasure meeting you all in person and being part of this unforgettable journey through Peru. I’m so happy to hear that the trip was everything you had hoped for and more!
Your kind words and detailed reflections are so appreciated, and we’re thrilled that each part of the itinerary resonated with you. We’ll be sure to pass along your warm regards to Mario and Wilbur—they’ll be so happy to hear... Read more