The best two weeks in Peru we could have imagined!
Peru | Jul 20 - Jul 31, 2025

Jillian
Jillian T.
Atlanta, GA | Reviewed on Aug 04, 2025

Our family (2 adults, 2 children - 8 & 10 years old) just returned from one AMAZING two-week trip to Peru! Our local specialist, Jimena, understood right from the start the sort of trip our family was looking for and made the planning process extremely easy. She made all of the arrangements for us to see everything we had on our wish list, but also included many stops and sites along the way that we didn't even know about but made the trip all the more special. Upon arrival in Lima, we were greeted by Bosco (at like 2:00 in the morning!) who was exceptionally friendly got us to our hotel and ensured an easy check-in. While we had some free time in Lima, we took a food tour that was arranged by KimKim through the Barranco neighborhood that was exceptional. After Bosco got us back to the airport a couple of days later, we were then greeted in Cusco by our private guide Guido and driver, Alan. I cannot say enough good things about these two gentlemen. Guido has been leading tours in the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu for many years, and his deep knowledge and easy manner enriched each of the six days we spent with him. I even ended up needing to go to a clinic one day because of food poisoning and Guido and Alan stayed with me and ensured I got the meds I needed and got back to the hotel, even though it extended their day by a lot. I'm forever grateful them, and our entire time in Cusco/Sacred Valley was so much richer than I expected it to be because of them. After our time in the Cusco area, we headed back to Lima where we met with Bosco again. He traveled with us from Lima to Paracas and while he wasn't leading our tours, it was reassuring to know he was nearby if we needed anything at all. Our tours of the Ballestas Islands, Paracas Nature Reserve, and overflight of Nazca lines were fantastic. I highly, highly recommend any and all parts of this trip to others. It was truly a trip of a lifetime and one that our family will remember forever. Many, many thanks to the entire team who made this happen!

Hotel Reviews
La Casona de Yucay
Ollantaytambo Urubamba

We loved staying here during our time in the Sacred Valley! Not only were the accommodations fantastic, but the staff was very friendly and helpful.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Hatun Inti Boutique Machupicchu
Machu Picchu

This was a wonderful place to stay during our days visiting Machu Picchu. Our family enjoyed two adjoining rooms, so there was plenty of space to spread out and relax. Highly recommended.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Lunch at Tunupa Buffet
Lunch at Tunupa Buffet
Sacred Valley

Delicious! A great place for lunch, especially since we could try so many different foods and our whole family could tailor our plates to our own preferences. Thank you!

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Walking food tour at Barranco
Walking food tour at Barranco
Lima

Our guide, Shayla, was so much fun to take this tour with! She was great with our whole family, and it was very appreciated that she was able to take us to so many restaurants and they could accommodate our two vegetarians during the tour as well. Not only did we get to try many authentic Peruvian dishes, but Shayla gave us so much history and preparation info as well. Five stars!!

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Shayla was AWESOME!
Transport
Join us to Rainbow Mountain
Join us to Rainbow Mountain
Cusco

What a day this was! The 3 1/2-hour drive from Cusco felt daunting at first when we heard about it, but the drive was so beautiful that in the end it didn't even matter how long it took. Our driver had picked up boxed snacks and lunches, so our needs were taken care of. Arriving at the Rainbow Mountain was an adventure in itself, as the road to it is picturesque, but steep and narrow. Our first steps at 16,500 ft. above sea level were SO TOUGH, but Guido helped coach us through the altitude and helped us take our time as we summited the trail for the best views. Even though the hike was challenging, it was worth every step to see this beautiful spot!

Quality of Experience
Food
These snacks and boxed lunches were DELICIOUS!
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Pass by Pisac Market & an Andean camelid Farms
Pass by Pisac Market & an Andean camelid Farms
Sacred Valley

The camelid farm just outside Cusco was a great first stop after leaving the airport. Our kids (and, honestly us adults, too), enjoyed seeing, petting, and learning about the different camelid animals that live in Peru. We even got to see condors, guinea pigs, and Peruvian dog, and a very small and interesting deer. After looking at the animals, a lady in the shop offered us tea (good for elevation) and gave us a quick lesson on the quality of different camelid products found in Peru. This not only helped us when buys a few souvenirs here, but also throughout out tour. Unfortunately, our flight was delayed so we didn't have much time in Pisac, but our guide made sure we stopped quickly to pick up some AMAZING empanadas for a snack along the way.

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Ceramic Workshop - Ramos Kintu
Ceramic Workshop - Ramos Kintu
Peru

Our whole family (2 adults, 2 children ages 8 & 10) REALLY enjoyed this experience!! Ramos Kintu showed us all a lot of patience during the lesson and we created pieces we could take home. We loved it!

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Maras Salt Ponds
Maras Salt Ponds
Sacred Valley

Because I got sick on the day this tour was supposed to happen, we rescheduled it for the following day quite early in the morning. It was so amazing and refreshing to see this site first thing in the morning when it was quiet and no other visitors had arrived yet. It's a beautiful spot and its a bit mind-blowing to understand how long the salt ponds have been in use and just how much salt comes from them!

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Amaru Community
Amaru Community
Peru

I missed out on this experience because of being sick, but my husband and two children came back with the MOST AMAZING photos and stories from their experience here. Getting to try on traditional clothing, trying out farming techniques, and eating food prepared that day was an experience my children will remember their entire lives!

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Pisac Archaeological Site
Pisac Archaeological Site
Peru

Again, I was sick this day and could not join my family at this site, but my kids came back and told me all about these farming terraces. They were blown away by the scale of the site. Big thumbs up!

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Cusco Walking City Tour with San Francisco Church
Cusco Walking City Tour with San Francisco Church
Cusco

Our guide, Guido, took us around Cusco center on a fun and informative walking tour. Seeing the sites, including the food market, helped us get a sense of the amazing vibe Cusco has. I'd love to explore this city more. Guido also took us inside the cathedral and gave us a lot of history on the building and art inside. SO GOOD!

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Morning Visit to Ollantaytambo
Morning Visit to Ollantaytambo
Peru

This is a definite must-see site! The beauty and scale of the archaeological site, and also of the town and setting, were so rich! I could have stayed here twice as long as we did just because the setting was so gorgeous. The town was hopping because this is where we boarded the train for Machu Picchu, and while we didn't have time to explore, I loved the vibe here.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Afternoon at Machu Picchu - Lower Terraces
Afternoon at Machu Picchu - Lower Terraces
Aguas Calientes/ Machu Picchu

Our first of two visits to Machu Picchu during our trip was just as fabulous as we expected it to be. There's something about that first glimpse of the site that we've waited decades to see that was extremely special. Our guide, Guido, was exceptionally informative about everything here, and after getting a good fill of the view from above, he took us through the village itself and told us all about history of the site, pointing out special places along the way. We were over the moon with this visit.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Second Visit to Machu Picchu (Morning)
Second Visit to Machu Picchu (Morning)
Peru

This second visit to Machu Picchu was especially good for us. Not only did our guide Guido take us on a different route so we could see Machu Picchu from above again (and maybe the more picturesque views), but then we hiked up to the Sun Gate along the Inca Trail. Our family enjoys hiking, so getting to take these steps along the Inca Trail and then viewing Machu Picchu from the Sun Gate felt particularly special. Highly recommended!

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Paracas Reserve Exploration
Paracas Reserve Exploration
Paracas

This tour was only 2 hours long, but we could have spent all day bird watching and enjoying the shores here. The reserve is full of beautiful and interesting birds, and the sights are beyond gorgeous! Our guide during this portion (Juan, I think? Apologies I can't remember for sure) was really informative. He kept us on schedule, but was also happy to answer all of our questions. He also pointed us toward the best restaurant in Paracas for after our tour (we ate there twice!).

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Ballestas Islands
Ballestas Islands
Peru

Our first boat ride out the the islands was interrupted because of a tsunami advisory, so we asked our KimKim guide, Bosco, to re-book the tour for the following morning. OH, we are so happy we went again and were able to go all of the way this time. The sights and animals you see of this tour are so cool (Humbolt penguins! South American sea lions!). On our way back to shore, our boat sped along a very long line of migrating birds (like thousands and thousands), which was definitely a highlight of the trip!

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Overflight Nazca Lines
Overflight Nazca Lines
Peru

This experience was pretty awesome, but the flight is challenging to say the least! We all got a little air sick, but it was worth it to see the Nazca lines we've heard so much about!

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Jimena Salazar
Jimena
Jimena Salazar
Local specialist in Lima, Peru | Replied on Aug 06, 2025

Dear Jillian

Thank you so much for your kind words. It was a true pleasure to help create lasting memories for you, Lowrie and your kids through these experiences across my country. I’m so glad you were able to connect with the true essence of our culture and landscapes.

I’ll be sure to pass along your lovely message to Guido, Alan, Bosco, and Sheyla so they know how much you appreciated all the care and dedication they put into making your trip special.

Wishing you all the best in your future adventures,
Jimena