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Remarkable: my experience with KimKim and Andean Travel to Peru
Peru | Aug 15 - Aug 24, 2023

Sarah
Sarah C.
Canada | Reviewed on Aug 27, 2023
I had never booked a trip with a travel agency before and after this experience I will definitely do it again! kimkim and the Andean Travel team took care of all of our needs from the planning to execution of our Peru experience. From the beginning Ruth and Liz helped me to choose adventures that suited our family. They also gave me options for saving money along with way. But most of all, the work that they did behind the scenes - the work that we only saw the outcomes of - was... Read more

I had never booked a trip with a travel agency before and after this experience I will definitely do it again! kimkim and the Andean Travel team took care of all of our needs from the planning to execution of our Peru experience.

From the beginning Ruth and Liz helped me to choose adventures that suited our family. They also gave me options for saving money along with way. But most of all, the work that they did behind the scenes - the work that we only saw the outcomes of - was incredible! All of our transportation and flights and hotels and guides we so well coordinated.

Everyone that we met was wonderful and we will keep in touch with many of these people!
Our guides:
Eloy for Cusco - has wonderful calming energy that helped us to connect to our experience, environment and the remarkable history of the area on a more spiritual level.
Juan Franco for Machu Picchu - was a wealth of information and a fabulous photographer! He told us the story of Machu Picchu like a puzzle, adding new pieces at every stop.
Luce for Palcoyo Rainbow mountain - was always looking out for our safety and making sure that we adjusted well to the altitude of our climb. She also helped us to give thanks for our experience with a mountaintop ceremony.
And finally Francisco at Muyuna Lodge went out of his way to ensure that we got the best Amazon experience in the short time that we had available.

Lizbeth, who was our contact via WhatsApp during our trip was always available to help, offer suggestions and ensure that we had everything that we needed when we needed it from entrance tickets to boarding passes.

Each driver along the way impressed us with their ability to navigate Peruvian roadways - which in itself was no small feat!

I can’t wait to book my next trip with KimKim!

Hotel Reviews
Chakana Boutique Hotel
Machu Picchu, Cusco

We enjoyed our very short stay at Chakana. We had a quick overnight stay on our way to Machu Picchu. Our departure was very early the following morning and the kitchen staff graciously packed us a fulsome and delicious breakfast to take with us. They also stored all of our belongings for us until our tour was over. The strange thing was that the window in our room opened into the elevator shaft and if our curtain had a gap at the corner, anyone on our floor could peek into our bedroom. Good thing we were too tired to do anything but sleep!

Authenticity & Character
There are hand painted murals on every floor. Very artsy and fun!
Location
An easy walk to everything Aguas Calientes has to offer.
Staff
Everyone was wonderful and helpful.
Cleanliness & Comfort
Hotel Britania
Lima

Very nice hotel, close to everything that we were interested in seeing. This hotel was our first introduction to Peru. The hotel was clean and comfortable, the staff was helpful and the location was great for walkers like us!

Authenticity & Character
Location
An easy walk all over Miraflores
Staff
Very helpful staff packed us a bagged breakfast when our departure time was earlier than their breakfast hours.
Cleanliness & Comfort
Sol Natura Hotel
Ollantaytambo

Beautiful hotel, close to everything Ollantaytambo has to offer. Kind and helpful staff. Delicious breakfast options. Great views from the room. Beautiful, greenhouse-like courtyard with games and tea.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Close to everything in the beautiful town of Ollantaytambo
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Muyuna Lodge
Iquitos

Amazing experience! The connection of this lodge to the people of Yanayaku make this experience one to remember. The staff feel like family because they are, by blood, by village or by love of the biodiversity of the Amazon Rainforest.

Authenticity & Character
Such a cool environment. Expect to sweat. Embrace it!
Location
The remoteness of the location means that there is so much biodiversity in the region. Even just sitting in the hammock on our porch we saw Lizards, monkeys, geckos, frogs, and remarkable flora.
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Review
Private Mystic Walking Tour to The Temple of the Moon & Cusco City
Private Mystic Walking Tour to The Temple of the Moon & Cusco City
Cusco

Our guide Eloy was fantastic! His tour put us in the mindset of the ancestors who once walked through the streets and temples of Cusco. He shared rituals and offerings with us as a way to help us understand the design of the temples that we visited. Our walk into Cusco followed part of the Inka trail and as we progressed the city unfolded before our eyes! We wandered from old to new, along cobbled roads learning about the different stone work and the transition from the ancient to the modern city that it is now. We ended at the San Pedro market where Eloy helped us navigate the isles, learn about the many offerings of the market and enjoy fresh fruit juices and bread.

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: x x

I created my itinerary with Liz Karen for Cus...
Peru | Jun 12 - Jun 21, 2023

RyanandLisa
RyanandLisa M.
Nampa, ID | Reviewed on Jun 24, 2023
I created my itinerary with Liz Karen for Cusco and surrounding areas. The trip turned out better than I imagined. We felt like VIPs and loved it. Communication with Liz Karen was easy and consistent when I was in the US and in Peru.
We had a private shuttle for the 8 of us. We felt extremely safe and they were excellent drivers on some very extremely difficult dirt roads.
Our first and last guide was Manuel Cevallos. He was amazing. He knew his facts and history. He was interesting and...
Read more

I created my itinerary with Liz Karen for Cusco and surrounding areas. The trip turned out better than I imagined. We felt like VIPs and loved it. Communication with Liz Karen was easy and consistent when I was in the US and in Peru.
We had a private shuttle for the 8 of us. We felt extremely safe and they were excellent drivers on some very extremely difficult dirt roads.
Our first and last guide was Manuel Cevallos. He was amazing. He knew his facts and history. He was interesting and kind and really followed our lead on what was important to us.
One guide we had was Luis Eschaz Taipe. He took us mountain biking and to our white water rafting excursions. He also stayed with us at the hotels. He was fun and attentive. He played the guitar and sang for us. He used an excellent camera and took pictures of us on the excursions.
Our guide through Machu Pichu was Extreme Turbulencia. They took good care of us, but we would have preferred Manuel in MP. I don’t want to say anything negative because they were so kind, but the English was difficult and the presentation style did not hold our attention.
Our base hotel Casa San Blas was excellent. I would 100% recommend and stay there again. The staff was so kind kind and helpful. Breakfast was excellent every morning. Extremely clean and the location was excellent.
Our biggest surprise and treat was staying in the Sacred Valley at El Mangal. The food was amazing (two of us with celiac and it was still delicious). A tour of the fruit and cacao farm and making our own drinks from the beans was so interesting and fun. They made us feel so special. We planted a tree and named it “Walter” after our Grandfather. They had a beautiful pool and accommodations were nice.
Using KimKim was extremely expensive, but we did the trip “right” and I have no regrets. We felt extremely safe and well cared for.

Hotel Reviews
Casa San Blas Boutique
Cusco

Perfect hotel. Clean. Kind and helpful staff. Excellent location Delicious breakfast So kind. I’d return and recommend 100%.

Authenticity & Character
Charming and comfortable. We spent a lot of time on the balcony enjoying the stars. The included filtered water was very appreciated.
Location
Central location. We felt extremely safe and let our kids go out to the shops nearby.
Staff
Marcos, JD, and our morning breakfast chef - she was so cute but can’t recall her name / we’re amazingly kind and helpful.
Cleanliness & Comfort
Perfect.
El Albergue Ollantaytambo Boutique Hotel
Cusco

Great location for catching the train. The dining room served good food. I’d stay again.

Authenticity & Character
Loved the flower gardens around the rooms.
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Inti Punku MachuPicchu Hotel & Suites
Machu Picchu, Aguas Calientes

Nice hotel with big rooms. Very convenient.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
They were very kind to let us hangout in the lobby and restaurant as we waited for family and shuttle.
El Mangal
Maranura

The best place to stay. You are staying on a farm with a native Peruvian family. They take care of you like you are family. The tour and cocoa activities were so fun. They made our stay special. The food was amazing. The chef cooked excellent dishes that were gf. Two of us have celiac and our dishes were fabulous.

Authenticity & Character
Amazing experience in visiting the farm and eating farm to table.
Location
It’s a hard drive to get to, but worth the experience.
Staff
So so kind.
Cleanliness & Comfort
Nice big rooms.
Activity Reviews
Shared Cooking Classes Ivanna Lescano  (18:00 - 19:30) w/assistance
Shared Cooking Classes Ivanna Lescano (18:00 - 19:30) w/assistance
Cusco

What a great experience. Chef Christine had so much energy and made the class amazing. Two of us have celiac and 4 people didn’t like seafood and I asked for something we could make at home in Idaho. She did it, she gave us a gf dish that my 14 year old could follow the recipe and create again at home. If time allowed we all would have done another class. She also had so much information to share regarding cuisine in Peru.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
LizBeth from KimKim came and got us from our hotel and we walked together. That was nice.
Private Llama trek, Ancestral Weaving & Salt Flats of Maras
Private Llama trek, Ancestral Weaving & Salt Flats of Maras
Peru

We did not go to the Salt flats. We did the weaving and llama trek. Tour guide Manuel Cevallos was exceptional. It was evident that Manuel had an exceptional reputation there, we were immediately welcomed as his friend. They were kind to us and served us very well in learning about weaving, llamas and alpacas. Roaming the store and looking at all the items in the store was very fun too, and we probably spent too much time in the store, and money.

Quality of Experience
So fun.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Driver was great. Not easy roads:). Manuel knew his information and his presentation style is excellent.
Transport
Comfortable van.
Shared Short Inca Trail Trek 1/2
Shared Short Inca Trail Trek 1/2
Peru

To enter through the sun gate and see Machu Picchu right there was absolutely amazing and something I had waited my whole life to see. It seemed surreal. This was a fantastic experience. The views were amazing, and the challenge was self fulfilling. Don’t miss this 1 day experience. I have two bad knees, used walking sticks and took my time. My 14 year old daughter, who never exercises, ran most of it. The hike is uneven trails and tons of steps. It was hard, but doable at your own pace. One day hiking was plenty.

Quality of Experience
Take your time. Set your own pace and do it!
Food
The regular lunch was fine. The gf lunch was a hard big piece of bread with no deli meat or cheese. It was fun of fruit and snacks so it came out okay.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Angel from Extreme Turbulence was a great hiker and kept tabs on everyone. We also had another younger guide that brought up the back of the group that was kind. They provided duffle bags which met us at our hotel, otherwise we might have had to hike with our 3 day bag, which wasn’t going to happen.
Transport
Shared Short Inca Trail trek 2/2: Machu Picchu
Shared Short Inca Trail trek 2/2: Machu Picchu
Peru

Bucket list complete! Once you walk through an area you can’t turn around. It’s one direction so don’t rush. Take your time in each area. It was interesting how every tour guide said different things about the same item or use at MP. It was nice to listen as you walked.

Quality of Experience
Just being there with my family. Finally achieving this goal.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Private tour to Sacsayhuaman, Cochahuasi & Pisac
Private tour to Sacsayhuaman, Cochahuasi & Pisac
Cusco

Manuel Cevallos has great knowledge about this area too. It was a beautiful day. He brought a personal friend that was a Sharma (?). He did a prayer ceremony and made an offering to the mountains and glaciers. It was a great personal experience and then he did a prayer for each of us with the offering. It was amazing to hear his story of how he became.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Inca Jungle - Adventure Tour 2/3
Inca Jungle - Adventure Tour 2/3
Santa Teresa

Staying at El Mangal was another highlight of the trip. Amazing experience with being on this plantation/farm/orchard. Stay here!

Quality of Experience
El Mangal is the place to stay. For culture and food and clean lodging. The biking was really fun, but be very comfortable on a bike before you go. The Whitewater water rafting was really great. It is short. You get off and jump from a rock and hike to a waterfall. They are experienced guides. The driving for the Inca Trail is amazing scenery, extremely scary, but the drivers know the road and kept us safe.
Food
El Mangal was amazing cuisine, and the restaurant we stopped at between biking and water rafting was delicious too. The owner of the restaurant wasn’t the nicest guy, but the food was good.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Luis Echaiz Taipe is a great adventure tour guide. He was very fun and extremely kind and made sure we were all comfortable.
Transport
The roads to the Inca Trail are extremely uneven, scary, bumpy, windy with lots of switchbacks. Have your motion, sickness, medicine at hand.
Private Mystic Experience & Culture Immersion at San Pedro Local Market
Private Mystic Experience & Culture Immersion at San Pedro Local Market
Cusco

This was a private, beautiful barbecue, that we did at a small hotel that sits above the city. It was fabulous. Lizbeth took us there and then we walked home.

Food
The food was amazing. It was an outdoor barbecue and they met are gluten-free needs.
Local specialist: x x

Perú trip
Peru | May 27 - Jun 2, 2023

Beatriz
Beatriz A.
Shaw, DC | Reviewed on Jun 05, 2023
Our trip to Peru was planned to perfection. It could not have been better. The communication was impeccable, Liz responded to all my messages immediately. Every driver and every guide were on time for all excursions. All the staff in our hotel Casa San Blas were so attentive and made our stay very comfortable. All the details were handled and all we had to do was enjoy. From the food to the excursions Peru was a trip to remember. Read more

Our trip to Peru was planned to perfection. It could not have been better. The communication was impeccable, Liz responded to all my messages immediately. Every driver and every guide were on time for all excursions. All the staff in our hotel Casa San Blas were so attentive and made our stay very comfortable. All the details were handled and all we had to do was enjoy. From the food to the excursions Peru was a trip to remember.

Hotel Review
Casa San Blas Boutique
Cusco

This hotel was perfect. The attention and locations were unbeatable.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Local specialist: x x
X
x x
Local specialist in x | Replied on Jun 06, 2023

Hi Beatriz,
Thanks for taking the time to leave such a nice review!
We are very happy to know that you enjoyed your trip in Peru! We'll share this with the team.
Please take care and if somehow we can help in the future, just let us know. We'll be always happy to help!
Kindly,
Ruth & Liz.