Kimkim Trip Reviews for Peru

4.9
Based on 447 ratings
Read 447 verified reviews by travelers who booked their trip to Peru on kimkim. You can also read reviews about kimkim on 3rd party sites including Google, TrustPilot and Yelp.

Peru ~10 days
Peru | Nov 15 - Nov 23, 2017

Vicky
Vicky S.
San Mateo, CA | Reviewed on Nov 26, 2017
James and Mayra have been great throughout the itinerary planning process. Responsive and flexible, and they give very sensible suggestions. Our guide in Cusco Miguel was great too - he knows the area in and out and is quite resourceful in accommodating our requests (dinner choices, getting local SIM card, etc.) Special touches were much appreciated, such as picnic lunch prepared by Quechua's private chef when we arrived, off the beaten path hikes in Yucay, great recommendations on dinner... Read more

James and Mayra have been great throughout the itinerary planning process. Responsive and flexible, and they give very sensible suggestions. Our guide in Cusco Miguel was great too - he knows the area in and out and is quite resourceful in accommodating our requests (dinner choices, getting local SIM card, etc.)

Special touches were much appreciated, such as picnic lunch prepared by Quechua's private chef when we arrived, off the beaten path hikes in Yucay, great recommendations on dinner restaurants in Sacred Valley, to name a few.

BTW we compared Quechua Treks with other providers such as Jacada, Audley, andBeyond, etc., and found Quechua (on Kimkim platform) to be the easiest to work with, most reasonable in price, and with the most approachable folks. Perfect for us, travelers who want something in between "roughing it" and "absolute luxury". The other providers might offer additional concierge service e.g. booking great restaurants, but it may not be guaranteed and you definitely pay for it.

Net net, Quechua is legit and good people, work with them!

Local specialist: James M
James
James M
Local specialist in Cusco, Peru | Replied on Nov 27, 2017

Thanks for your review Vicky, we're really pleased you had a great trip. We always try to deliver a bit extra to make our tours more enjoyable & take our travelers to places that are more traditional and less well known and we're delighted that you enjoyed your time with Miguel. It was great to have you with us and keep in touch! best regards, James

Keilap
Peru | Nov 16 - Nov 21, 2017

Marilyn
Marilyn S.
| Reviewed on Nov 26, 2017

Everything was splendid before , during, and after the trip. The only thing that was REALLY hard was the hike to the lodging at Keulap.

Local specialist: Martina Capel
Martina
Martina Capel
Local specialist in France | Replied on Dec 24, 2017

Dear Marilyn,

Thank you for your review. It is a steep hike to Sra. Teodula, but it is just a beautiful place to be. I am glad that you enjoyed your night there as well as the entire trip.

Happy travels throughout South America !
Warm regards,
Martina

Explore Northern Peru: Cajamarca to Chachapoyas
Peru | Oct 22 - Oct 28, 2017

Beata
Beata N.
Canada | Reviewed on Nov 19, 2017
Very professional and high-quality service from Martina, accommodating all of our requests and needs during the trip. The North part of Peru is not very well advertised and there are not too many tourists in this area (good for people like us, who really enjoyed the real Peru experience, not overtaken by tourism industry yet.) We were nicely surprised and definitely I would suggest using this as a key point in the advertisement of this region. So thank you, Martina, for pointing to us these... Read more

Very professional and high-quality service from Martina, accommodating all of our requests and needs during the trip.

The North part of Peru is not very well advertised and there are not too many tourists in this area (good for people like us, who really enjoyed the real Peru experience, not overtaken by tourism industry yet.) We were nicely surprised and definitely I would suggest using this as a key point in the advertisement of this region. So thank you, Martina, for pointing to us these incredible places to see and stay.

Kuelep, Mausoleum of Revish, Sarcophagi of Karajia - amazing sites. Getting to these places through the real Peruvian villages is an attraction on its own. Chachapoyas and Cajamarca - very authentic Peruvian towns with beautiful main squares and beautiful architecture (a little bit disappointing was the fact that there was a major renovation of the main square in Chachapoyas - which we did not expect).

Also, the drive from Cajamarca through the valleys, mountains, and an incredible one-line road was amazing: the views, the trill passing another vehicles and change of sceneries were unforgettable.

Two amazing places we have stayed I would like to mention. Perico and Lola house in Nogalcucho: quiet and isolated house with beautiful private accommodations. Great homemade dinner and breakfast. Lots of options for walks or areas to sit and enjoy the beauty of their place.
Another is in Cocachimba hostel Sacha Puyo (best view on Gocta falls). The views and quietness of this place are out of this world.

Even though we did not have a guide, our driver Beto was able to give us enough info so we did not feel lost without knowledge of Spanish. But the knowledge of a minimum of Spanish language is a must when traveling in this region so I would recommend to always let people know about this fact. In general people in Northern Peru do not know English.

Local specialist: Martina Capel
Martina
Martina Capel
Local specialist in France | Replied on Dec 24, 2017
Dear Beata, Thank you so much for taking the time to write a such long overview. I am very happy that you enjoyed your stay in the amazing region of Amazonas. Everything you mention is absolutely true. The region is still rather untouched from tourism and it gives you the opportunity to meet authentic people and to share their passion (like with Perico and Lola). On the other hand, without any Spanish knowledge and only with English, it is rather a challenge. I'm glad that Beto could be of... Read more

Dear Beata,

Thank you so much for taking the time to write a such long overview. I am very happy that you enjoyed your stay in the amazing region of Amazonas.

Everything you mention is absolutely true. The region is still rather untouched from tourism and it gives you the opportunity to meet authentic people and to share their passion (like with Perico and Lola). On the other hand, without any Spanish knowledge and only with English, it is rather a challenge. I'm glad that Beto could be of assistance to you.

Once again, thank you for your encouraging comments that I will pass on to all the people involved.

Warm regards to you and your husband,
Martina

17 day Peru adventure
Peru | Oct 27 - Nov 12, 2017

W
Wyn K.
WA | Reviewed on Nov 14, 2017

Very well organized! Had a great time without having to worry about details! Thank you!

Evelyn was very quick to answer questions and make the perfect itinerary for us!

Local specialist: Evelyn Casallo
Evelyn
Evelyn Casallo
Local specialist in Cusco, Peru | Replied on Feb 02, 2018

Dear Wyn,

Thank you very much for your feedback and for your kind words,
Peru has a lot to offer and I am glad to hear you had a great time exploring our country.
Thank you for travelling with us!
Kindest regards,
Evelyn

Ausangate Trek
Peru | Oct 27 - Oct 31, 2017

Kristin
Kristin M.
Augusta, GA | Reviewed on Nov 04, 2017

Wonderful, wonderful experience, booking was seamless and easy. The entire trip was absolutely just amazing. The service was top notch, the equipment was top notch and I have made new friends. There truly is not enough nice things I can say about Quechua Treks and James. This was an amazing trip. The food was excellent as well. I am already in the process of booking several other trips through kimkim and Quechua Treks.

James is amazing. Perfect communication and kept in contact. I'm actually not sure he ever sleeps because he answered every question I had promptly and I work nights!!!!

Local specialist: James M
James
James M
Local specialist in Cusco, Peru | Replied on Nov 04, 2017

Hi Kristin, many thanks for your comments, it's really appreciated by all of the crew here. It was an epic trek but thoroughly enjoyed by the whole team. This is what we love to do and it's a pleasure to have you with us. We're looking forward to planning more things with you in 2018 and we hope we can take you to the next level of trekking! best regards, James

Trip to Peru
Peru | Oct 15 - Oct 19, 2017

Marlynn
Marlynn R.
West Linn, OR | Reviewed on Oct 21, 2017

The trek was the highlight of our 3 week trip to Peru. Food, cooks, overall trekking experience was great. All places we stayed were great, especially the overnight at the hot springs. There was an issue with my sleeping bag: The zipper in my $40 rental sleeping bag was broken from day one. I had to put extra layers on to keep warm on the 1st night. In the afternoon the guide was nowhere to be found and I told him at dinner. Someone went to fix it, but they didn't try the zipper and I went to bed and the clasp fell off so the zipper was broken.

Local specialist: Steve Wilson
Steve
Steve Wilson
Local specialist in Cusco, Peru; Dunedin, New Zealand; Rothenburg ob der Tauber, Germany | Replied on Nov 23, 2017
Hi Marlynn It’s taken me a few days to respond to your review because I’ve been getting to the bottom of how this came to happen with your sleeping bag. Simple gear failure is the answer, and I’m so sorry it caused you this experience . Wilhen, our equipment manager, personally checked your sleeping bag before it went out on your Salkantay trek, but it evidently gave way on the way in and started opening itself. Aldo got it to close again, but then the clasp came off in your hand. Our... Read more

Hi Marlynn

It’s taken me a few days to respond to your review because I’ve been getting to the bottom of how this came to happen with your sleeping bag. Simple gear failure is the answer, and I’m so sorry it caused you this experience .

Wilhen, our equipment manager, personally checked your sleeping bag before it went out on your Salkantay trek, but it evidently gave way on the way in and started opening itself. Aldo got it to close again, but then the clasp came off in your hand.

Our conclusion is that the zips on our National Geographic brand sleeping bags are not strong enough, and we’re sending them all off to get replaced. We’ll also be sending out an extra sleeping bag, to cover any cases like this, on our trips from now on.

I apologise once again for the sleeping bag and I hope other aspects of your trip went some way towards making up for it.

Kind regards
Steve

Best Day Hikes in the Sacred Valley near Cusco
Peru | Oct 12 - Oct 15, 2017

Sarah
Sarah M.
New York, NY | Reviewed on Oct 17, 2017

Nicole was incredible, and took the time to figure out what kind of trip I wanted, then helped me adjust last-minute when I needed to make some emergency changes.

I plan to recommend Nicole to anyone I hear is going to Peru—whether they ask for recommendations or not :)
She was available, helpful, knowledge, and lovely.

Local specialist: Nicole and Bill Koch
Nicole and Bill
Nicole and Bill Koch
Local specialist in Cusco, Peru | Replied on Oct 21, 2017

Thanks so much! It was our pleasure.

Beauty Of Southern Peru - 10-Day
Peru | Aug 11 - Aug 25, 2017

B
Benjamin Z.
Seattle, WA | Reviewed on Sep 13, 2017

Great trip that more than exceeded my expectations. The guides, activities, and accommodations were fantastic. The only thing that I could have improved would have been to do more research myself and request more days hiking.

Having the opportunity to chat with James on the phone could have sparked a discussion of the pace of the trip and whether a more aggressive itinerary made sense for us.

Local specialist: James M
James
James M
Local specialist in Cusco, Peru | Replied on Sep 28, 2017

Hi Ben, many thanks for your comments. We're really pleased you had a great time whilst you were here with us. Having met you, and in hindsight, a phone call would have been a good idea because I think you'd have enjoyed some really good trekking as part of your program.
Please keep in touch, we'd love to help you out if you're coming back to South America.
Best regards, James

hike Inca trail
Peru | Aug 14 - Aug 18, 2017

D
Diana F.
Dalton, MA | Reviewed on Aug 26, 2017

It was the most amazing hike we ever did and Stephanie was of great help from the day we arrived in Cusco until the time we left. The hotels were really nice and all the people were very nice and friendly. One suggestion would be if you will be able to pair the hikers in the group based on abilities; our group was small and that was perfect. Thanks again for the wonderful trip!

Again, Stephanie went above and beyond to customized our trip based on our needs and she helped us from the time we arrived in Cusco until the day we left. Thanks Stephanie! It was a great pleasure to meet you!

Local specialist: Stephanie Guerra
Stephanie
Stephanie Guerra
Local specialist in Cusco | Replied on Feb 21, 2018

Hi Diana,

It was a pleasure to help you with your trip and to meet your family! I'm glad you enjoyed your trip and had a great time on the Salkantay Trek.

peru trip 2017
Peru | Aug 16 - Aug 19, 2017

C
chrisha m.
Canada | Reviewed on Aug 25, 2017

We had a good guide, Joise. To improve, it would have been great if we had more communication from the travel agent.

Everything was good. Had a good driver and perfect guide. Would have liked to have more communication

Local specialist: Nicole and Bill Koch
Nicole and Bill
Nicole and Bill Koch
Local specialist in Cusco, Peru | Replied on Jan 03, 2018

Hello Chrisha,
Thank you for letting us know your thoughts and thank you very much for the review!
Nicole

Best Day Hikes in the Sacred Valley
Peru | Jul 26 - Aug 1, 2017

Andrew
Andrew H.
United Kingdom | Reviewed on Aug 22, 2017

Fantastic communication and great advice from Nicole. The guide and driver were brilliant.

Local specialist: Nicole and Bill Koch
Nicole and Bill
Nicole and Bill Koch
Local specialist in Cusco, Peru | Replied on Aug 25, 2017

Gracias Andrew. Safe travels.

Best Treks to Machu Picchu
Peru | Aug 11 - Aug 19, 2017

Janice
Janice H.
Charlotte, NC | Reviewed on Aug 21, 2017

I had a great first experience with KimKim. I told others about it before even going on my trip. I began to fear it was too good to be true.... no, it was great from start to finish. I was regularly surprised with more than expected... more supported and more amenities than I thought.

I generally interacted with Nicole. She was very responsive, often responding within the hour or early morning after a late night inquiry. She alerted me to a period of a few days where she would be unavailable. Our short notice trip went off without a hitch.

Local specialist: Nicole and Bill Koch
Nicole and Bill
Nicole and Bill Koch
Local specialist in Cusco, Peru | Replied on Aug 25, 2017

Thanks Janice. We were happy to create this trip for you and your son! Take care and Safe Travels.
Nicole

Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu
Peru | Aug 4 - Aug 14, 2017

M
Mark B.
| Reviewed on Aug 19, 2017
Planning and booking the trip was easy. KimKim connected us with a great tour provider, and always responded quickly to questions and requests. It's rare to find a tour organizer really dedicated to creating a perfect experience, but that's the impression we had with Nicole and Haku. It's not the cheapest option, but hearing about others who had trekked with larger groups we are happy with our decision. Our guide Josias was experienced, patient and a great companion for the 6 days. We... Read more

Planning and booking the trip was easy. KimKim connected us with a great tour provider, and always responded quickly to questions and requests.

It's rare to find a tour organizer really dedicated to creating a perfect experience, but that's the impression we had with Nicole and Haku. It's not the cheapest option, but hearing about others who had trekked with larger groups we are happy with our decision.

Our guide Josias was experienced, patient and a great companion for the 6 days. We stayed in comfortable lodges in epic locations, and really enjoyed the meal on the final night.

There were no hidden costs or surprises, and every detail was covered. This truly allowed us to enjoy one of the best hiking trails in the world.

Local specialist: Nicole and Bill Koch
Nicole and Bill
Nicole and Bill Koch
Local specialist in Cusco, Peru | Replied on Sep 22, 2017

Thanks Mark. Salkantay is an amazing trip and I am so glad you could enjoy it!

Quick trip for an epic hike
Peru | Aug 11 - Aug 15, 2017

Blair
Blair S.
Charlotte, NC | Reviewed on Aug 17, 2017

I only received the one company as an option. Not sure if KimKim restricts the replies to the first company or if only the one company was interested in responding but it would have been good to get multiple companies to reply.

James was great to work with and was VERY fast to respond to questions and concerns.

Local specialist: James M
James
James M
Local specialist in Cusco, Peru | Replied on Aug 18, 2017
Hi Blair, thanks for your review, was great to have you both with us & from what I've heard from the guide we're really pleased you had a great trek.
Kimkim will always match travelers with the specialist in the destination who best matches the specific request. In this way travelers always get the best advice and experience based on their trip or expedition requirements.
It would have been good to hear your thoughts on the trek itself & the service you experienced during your trip. It's an...
Read more

Hi Blair, thanks for your review, was great to have you both with us & from what I've heard from the guide we're really pleased you had a great trek.
Kimkim will always match travelers with the specialist in the destination who best matches the specific request. In this way travelers always get the best advice and experience based on their trip or expedition requirements.
It would have been good to hear your thoughts on the trek itself & the service you experienced during your trip. It's an epic trek & we hope it matched your expectations. We would love to help you out again if you're down this way in future. Please keep in touch, best James

Lima and Machu picchu
Peru | Jul 26 - Aug 2, 2017

D
Danica P.
Australia | Reviewed on Aug 04, 2017

We had a couple of minor hiccups with miscommunication causing delays but Diego always tried to make things right and waited in our hotel lobby to personally apologize. Other than that great service.

Local specialist:
Diego
Diego Leon
Local specialist in Cusco | Replied on Oct 04, 2017

Hello Danica!

We are sorry for those inconvenient but glad that you enjoyed your trip.

P.D. Your photos look great!

Diego

13 days, Salk, Biking, Horseback
Peru | Jul 14 - Jul 26, 2017

H
Herman V.
PA | Reviewed on Jul 30, 2017
We just came back from a hiking trip to Macchu Picchu in Peru via the Salkantay route with HakuExpeditions wich we had booked via kimkim earlier this year. Our trekking along Salkantay as well as the visit to Macchu Picchu were just awesome. Nicole from Haku Expeditions was very flexible in setting up our itinerary and upon arrival in Cusco she organized a briefing with our trekking guides. The guides were absolutely fantastic. Both were very friendly and helpful, and had tremendous... Read more

We just came back from a hiking trip to Macchu Picchu in Peru via the Salkantay route with HakuExpeditions wich we had booked via kimkim earlier this year. Our trekking along Salkantay as well as the visit to Macchu Picchu were just awesome. Nicole from Haku Expeditions was very flexible in setting up our itinerary and upon arrival in Cusco she organized a briefing with our trekking guides.

The guides were absolutely fantastic. Both were very friendly and helpful, and had tremendous knowledge about the trek, the culture and environment. We did not trek by tent but from cabin to cabin. The accommodations were basic and clean, typically for what I've expected on a trek like this (no unnecessary luxury - but a good bed and a good hot shower every day). The food was above expectations. The Peruvian cuisine at high altitude, on the beaten track, tasted so delicious that we hiked almost every day without even having to rely on our snacks during the hike in between the main meals, there was plenty of good food and great hospitality. Definitely a trip we would like to do over sometime.

Local specialist: Nicole and Bill Koch
Nicole and Bill
Nicole and Bill Koch
Local specialist in Cusco, Peru | Replied on Sep 22, 2017

Herman it was wonderful to meet you and your family. Thanks for coming to Peru and allowing us to create a custom trip for your family!

Hiking in Peru
Peru | Jun 5 - Jun 11, 2017

J
Jennifer S.
Canada | Reviewed on Jul 15, 2017
I wish we could have kept the same guide throughout the entire experience. Our first guide, Reuben, saw us through the Choquequirao trek (which was fantastic) but we had a different guide for Machu Picchu and unfortunately he wasn't nearly as good. After several days on the trail with Reuben, we were very comfortable with him and his team, and it was jarring to switch to someone new on the last days of the trip. Overall, booking with Bill and Nicole was great. Nicole was always in contact... Read more

I wish we could have kept the same guide throughout the entire experience. Our first guide, Reuben, saw us through the Choquequirao trek (which was fantastic) but we had a different guide for Machu Picchu and unfortunately he wasn't nearly as good. After several days on the trail with Reuben, we were very comfortable with him and his team, and it was jarring to switch to someone new on the last days of the trip.

Overall, booking with Bill and Nicole was great. Nicole was always in contact making sure we had what we needed (she even gave me advice on which restaurants were good, what to pack to deal with the constantly changing weather in Peru, etc). It put my mind at ease being able to have such an open dialogue with her up right up until the day we left for the trip. That is definitely not something you get when booking through a regular travel agent.

I have nothing but great things to say about Bill and Nicole. They were easy-going, helpful and always willing to answer our questions. As I mentioned previously, the open communication with them throughout the planning stages of this trip really helped us prepare properly for the trek. I felt like we experienced Peru from a 'locals' perspective rather than a 'tourists' perspective thanks to their tips and suggestions. I would have loved it if they could have accompanied our hiking guide, Reuben, when he met with us to conduct the 'briefing'... actually I would have loved it if they could have come with us on the hike itself! They are such good people and did a great job helping us plan this trip.

Local specialist: Nicole and Bill Koch
Nicole and Bill
Nicole and Bill Koch
Local specialist in Cusco, Peru | Replied on Jul 16, 2017
Hi Jen, Thanks for the fantastic review! This comment is so sweet of you. We wish we could go too! (Jen:) I would have loved it if they could have accompanied our hiking guide, Reuben, when he met with us to conduct the 'briefing'... actually I would have loved it if they could have come with us on the hike itself! They are such good people and did a great job helping us plan this trip. Thanks again! By the way, we would have loved to have Ruben with you in Machu Picchu. He is such a great... Read more

Hi Jen, Thanks for the fantastic review! This comment is so sweet of you. We wish we could go too! (Jen:) I would have loved it if they could have accompanied our hiking guide, Reuben, when he met with us to conduct the 'briefing'... actually I would have loved it if they could have come with us on the hike itself! They are such good people and did a great job helping us plan this trip.

Thanks again! By the way, we would have loved to have Ruben with you in Machu Picchu. He is such a great guide. However, he was already booked for another trek. We just didn't have any other choice.
Keep in touch and safe travels.

Ausangate Nevada Trek
Peru | Jul 4 - Jul 11, 2017

Mark
Mark F.
the Netherlands | Reviewed on Jul 12, 2017

An amazing job by the entire Quechua Treks team. From all of James's work picking the trek. Then preparing for it, to Mayra's work leading us on the trip it was simply amazing. I plan to use Quechua for any future trips to South America. I consider them a tremendous resource to have access to and will suggest that any of my friends looking do something in South America contact them.

As mentioned earlier James's responsiveness was tremendous. He seemed to be available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. No question went unanswered for long.

Local specialist: James M
James
James M
Local specialist in Cusco, Peru | Replied on Jul 14, 2017

Hi Mark, thanks for your review. Was great to have you here with us & the crew enjoyed the tour with you. Some great photos from it, I think you picked the best trek! All the best for your travels this year, and enjoy the trekking in Switzerland. Keep in touch.

Peru Travel
Peru | Jun 24 - Jul 3, 2017

J
Justin B.
| Reviewed on Jul 05, 2017
Nicole provided my friends and I with a vacation for the history books. First of all, the planning stage was a breeze. After mentioning a rough idea of what we wanted to hit in Peru, Nicole came back instantly with a draft itinerary. After some minor tweaks, it was set. In the weeks leading up to the trip, Nicole was only a quick Whatsapp away to answer all questions, and she would immediately respond. The trip was just as smooth. In Cusco to Ollantaytambo, our beautiful colonial Airbnb was... Read more

Nicole provided my friends and I with a vacation for the history books. First of all, the planning stage was a breeze. After mentioning a rough idea of what we wanted to hit in Peru, Nicole came back instantly with a draft itinerary. After some minor tweaks, it was set. In the weeks leading up to the trip, Nicole was only a quick Whatsapp away to answer all questions, and she would immediately respond. The trip was just as smooth. In Cusco to Ollantaytambo, our beautiful colonial Airbnb was comfortable and in a perfect location. Our English-speaking drivers and guides were on time and extremely nice. From exploring ruins, biking through the Andes, whipping ATVs, zip lining in the Sacred Valley, hiking to the top of Machu Picchu, among countless other adventures, the trip was effortless as Nicole thought of everything. She was just as responsive in Peru, ready to lend food and other suggestions at every turn. She even hooked us up with an amazing contact for our stay in Lima. I would recommend anyone looking for a genuine adventure to use her services.

Local specialist: Nicole and Bill Koch
Nicole and Bill
Nicole and Bill Koch
Local specialist in Cusco, Peru | Replied on Jul 08, 2017

Thanks Justin! It was a pleasure helping you out. We had a fun time biking with you guys as well. Take care and safe travels!

Trip to Peru
Peru | Jun 16 - Jun 28, 2017

Lydia
Lydia E.
FL | Reviewed on Jun 29, 2017

Excellent planning! Amazing guides!

Very organized! Well planned

Local specialist: Steve Wilson
Steve
Steve Wilson
Local specialist in Cusco, Peru; Dunedin, New Zealand; Rothenburg ob der Tauber, Germany | Replied on Sep 22, 2017

Hola Sandy, thank you kindly for your review! I'm delighted that you and your family had an amazing time in Peru. What a stunning day you had at Machu Picchu - look at that sky!! It was a pleasure helping you design and plan your trip, and Katy and I are glad you enjoyed the company and leadership of Luis, your Aspiring Adventures guide. We hope you'll return to Peru some day!
Kind regards,
Steve, Aspiring Adventures