One of the most incredible trips we ...
Peru
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Nov 8 - Nov 22, 2025
This was one of the most incredible trips we have ever had. We appreciated all the obvious work and planning that went into our amazing trip to Peru. Starting with the awesome history and introduction to the Inca Empire at the Larco Museum with our guide Andrew, on to a fascinating trip to the desert with Alvaro, followed by the Sacred Valley with Diego.
It doesn’t get any more inspiring than that. The guides were so much more than we had anticipated. Their knowledge and pride of their country was truly touching. Every one went beyond the call of duty to ensure our visits touched so many aspects of the culture, not to mention our safety (and health).
Hotel Reviews
We had a nice stay at this hotel located in the heart of Miraflores. The area is very safe and the hotel is near a supermarket, bank and many restaurants. The room was not very large but it was comfortable if a little noisy at night being in the heart of town. The service was excellent as was breakfast and the little courtyard and balcony are nice touches.
A beautifull setting with multiple swimming pools. The room was large and the bed excellent. We took the Pisco making tour but no one mentioned that is was solely in Spanish so not very enlightening. Breakfast is a buffet with a self serve coffee machine that was very impressive. Getting there was chanllenging due to rush hour traffic that barely moved.
Another beautiful and historic hotel. Simon Bolivar once stayed in the original hacienda! The grouds were beautiful and the location at the base of mountains was superb. Breakfast was a treat with a huge buffet and great service. The dinner setting was nice as well.
This hotel is in the heart of old Cusco off a narrow street. It was converted from a house and appears to be a work of love. Our room was on 2 levels with an incredible view of the city from the bedroom. A note for travellers is that the bathroom is on the lower floor so a steep staircase has to be navigated. It was not an issue for us but required some care. Breakfast was a small but complete buffet and hot offerings made to order. There is also a restaurant which we used for room service after a late arrival. There was also a sitting area with umbrella just outside our room with a great view of the city.
This was the most impressive hotel on the trip. It had a huge jaccuzy, fireplace and large bathroom. It backed onto a river and was in the heart of Aguas Calientes. They held our luggage while we visited Machu Pichu and would have transferred it ti the nearby train station had we requested it. We also chilled there at the end of the trip waiting for our train. The morning buffet also had a great setting on the riverfront.
Activity Reviews
we had difficulty finding each other. It's a nice perk after a long flight. Jesus was helpful in reassuring us that Bosco was nearby.
A great way too get a sense of Miraflores and Barranca. The bikes were delivered to our hotel where we were met by Maria who was a very experienced and safety conscious guide. We stayed mostly on bike paths with a couple of shortcuts on quiet side streets. We sampled local cuisine at three spots, on the whole memorable.
We had a driver and Andrew who was a very experienced guide. We visited the old town and spent quality time in the Larco museum.
Another trip highlight. We were picked up at our hotel by Alvaro in his Toyota 4Runner for an exploration of the desert on the coast in Paracas. Alvaro was charming and very knowledgeable about the area. We stopped at a local roadside coffee/bakery before doing some off road exploration of Alvaro's surfing haunts. A great time and some great pictures.
No Rating. We wisely decided to cut this part out because I had a stomach ailment
Fed the Alpacas and had a nice demontration of the art of weaving. The shop was very nice. When I didn't know what style I need for a gift they encouraged me to use their wifi for a whattapp call
Very cool Inca village that is still thriving, the hike was slightly more strenuous that Machu Pichu. Diego did a great job here.
This was a nice setting to see a variety of Humming birds from a viewing platform.
A beautiful setting at a high altitude lake. We viewed a variety of water fowl from a kind of large canoe with outrigger. We had a separate guide who was very enthusiastic. A lunch was served near the water and enjoyed by both guides, the driver Victor and ourselves on a beuatiful day.
This was a great experience. We looked at the reconstructed Inca agronomic experiments in a spectcular setting.
As expected, this was a highlight of the trip. The town of Aguas Caliente is a little overdeveloped and crowded but the organization for getting all the tourists onto the site was impressive. Diego said that the Machu Pichu train is the only one in Peru that leaves on time.
We added the cathedral to the itinerary which was a good idea. A great experience to see the integration of the Spanish and Indigenous cultures.
Hi Brian,
Thank you so much for taking the time to share this — it truly means a lot. I’m thrilled to hear that your trip was such a memorable and meaningful experience. Alvaro, and Diego will be so happy to know their passion and care made a difference throughout your journey — they really are exceptional, and I’m glad you felt that too.
It was a pleasure helping you plan this adventure, and I’m delighted that Peru’s history, landscapes, and culture resonated with you in such a deep way!
Best,
Shawna and the Peruvian Soul team