Nicholas Cino

Our travel specialist, Nicholas Cino, was a joy to work with. We spent approximately 6 months planning our trip and had multiple calls and e-mail exchanges during the process. All the planning paid off and our 13 day trip was memorable and everything and more that we had wished for. Nico was very patient about answering our many questions and flexible when we wanted to change things. Nico has a unique personal touch that showed in all of our interactions.
Our guide in Cusco, the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu was Jesus Galimberti and he was amazing. He was incredibly knowledgeable about Peru and it’s history and had a warm personality who was easy to spend lots of time with. We quickly felt like he was our friend as well as our guide (he also made good restaurant recommendations in Cusco).
We fell in love with Cusco, it’s rich history and both it’s Inca and colonial architecture. The Plaza de Armas, the cobblestone streets and alleys, sitting at a cafe watching people go by, it’s incredibly charming. The highlight of the trip without a doubt was Machu Picchu. Seeing pictures does not do it justice, the first sight takes your breath away and it is simply awe inspiring. You can’t believe the advanced building techniques and degree of precision that the Incas possessed.
Our last 3 days were spent in the Amazon Rainforest and getting there is an adventure in itself. We saw several species of monkeys and birds including colorful macaws, went on a sunset cruise and a experienced an intense jungle rainstorm.
Our trip was a resounding success and we highly recommend Nicholas and KimKim.

Our trip to Peru was simply amazing!! We've never been to South America and we decided that the first country we should visit would be Peru after doing some research. We are so happy that we went with Peruvian Soul because it made logistics in the country really easy and we visited places that we would have probably never thought to go to. Not to mention that we met amazing people in Peruvian Soul that treated us like friends. We never used a travel agency for trips since we typically do all the planning, but this time it was nice to have some help with planning the entire trip from accommodations, covid testing, flights, and setting an itinerary that was both adventurous, cultural, fun, and relaxing.

The trip was to celebrate a birthday and everything was great! Our accommodations were nice and Nicholas was so helpful and communicative from start to finish. He picked us up from the airport and gave us a nice welcome package which consisted of hand sanitizer, a face mask, snacks, and a cool tote bag. We only got to see Nicholas once, but we were in constant contact with him during our trip via What's App.

We started in Lima and stayed in a cute boutique hotel (Casa Republica) in Barranco for 2 nights. The service there was great and it was cool to be in a historic mansion right near the water (seriously it was steps away). We were able to catch the sunset which was beautiful. There is also a cool rooftop bar at the hotel and we received complimentary Pisco Sours which were so good! When we left, the staff gave us Coco tea because they knew we were flying to Cusco which was very thoughtful. They also gave us breakfast to go in addition to the tea.

When we arrived in Cusco, we saw Julio who is such a genuine and nice person. He is incredibly knowledgeable of Cusco and could tell us anything about Cusco. We did many tours with Julio which included seeing Moray Terraces, Maras Salt Mines, and Ollantaytambo. In Ollantaytambo, we were able to experience a traditional meal cooked in the ground using stones which was awesome! The restaurant has food that comes straight from their garden and it was so good and cool to have that experience. We also tried different types of Piscos and coffee and the owner was quite the character!

After Cusco, we were finally in Aguas Calientes to prepare for Machu Picchu the following day. We met Eddy from Peruvian Soul who gave us the rundown for Machu Picchu. Eddy is funny and super nice. The hotel we stayed in was near the water and it was really nice. Again, the staff was so helpful and accommodating during our stay. Their breakfast was also really delicious! Eddy was our guide for Machu Picchu and it was cool to learn about the mystical place that is Machu Picchu. We went during rainy season, but luckily it was a clear day for us! It was also very peaceful because we went really early in the morning and not too many people were there.

After Machu Picchu, we were going back to Cusco for a night and we were met by our awesome driver. We thought we were going back to the hotel, but we made a surprise stop in Chinchero in the Sacred Valley. We saw Julio there, and went with the flow of the trip. We met some women there that explained how they make and dye their items for sell which was cool and informative. After that, Julio came out with a birthday cake and candles and everyone was singing Happy Birthday which was so thoughtful and unexpected! The women also blessed us with yellow flowers and it was such a special moment. The women also sang a song in their native language which we greatly appreciated. What a great way to spend a birthday! It was a great experience and probably one of the more memorable moments of the entire trip. Before we left Cusco, Julio gave us two bulls which represent good luck which was soo nice of him!

Our final location was Tumbes so we could relax at the beach. We were met by our driver Gaston who gave us water and was really nice (everyone in Peruvian Soul is soooo nice!!). We had a long drive so we talked and got to know more about him as a person. We stayed in Punta Sal resort and had a bungalow right on the beach! The bungalow, food, staff, and view were amazing! We are so grateful that Nicholas added Tumbes to our trip! We truly enjoyed the beach and the food!

All in all, Peru is such an amazing country and there is something for everyone! Peruvian Soul made the trip very memorable and we feel like we can always reach out to them whenever we are back. We had so much fun and the team was so thoughtful and helpful. We recommend Peru to everyone we know now, and we definitely suggest Peruvian Soul as agency if need be. We had such a great time and we definitely want to come back!!!

Peruvian Soul is amazing!! They crafted a truly unique dream vacation to Machu Picchu and the Galapagos. Nicholas and the entire team navigated the challenges of Covid in the most exceptional ways and took all the stress away to experience a dream vacation of a lifetime. Julio is a world class guide who lead our trip through Peru. We got to see the sunrise over the Temple of Sun near the solstice and we got to see the full effect and connect with the ancient Incas through this shared experience. The Galapagos was also amazing, and the team took care of the intricacies of traveling there so we could enjoy swimming with Penguins worry free! Truly remarkable, I highly recommend Peruvian Soul.

Julio was an excellent tour guide who grew up in the Cusco region and was like traveling with a family friend. He was knowledgeable about the various ruins we visited and provided great advice on dietary choices and knew when to push and when to back off on physical challenges with the high altitude. Our five days of hiking allowed for a good understanding of the region along with the natural resources, the local food and the people. This trip was customized to our desires by KimKim and I could not imagine a better experience in this region. Machu Picchu was awesome but our 15 mile hike from Chinchero to Coya was truly the highlight. Judeas, our driver, was always prompt and professional. A great vacation!

KimKim is a brilliant idea expertly executed. How to find the perfect in-country help for just the kind of travel you prefer? Ask KimKim. They put us in touch with Nicho and Diego at Peruvian Soul for our self-drive, self-guided trip in Peru. And while driving yourself in Peru is not recommended, we set out anyway to discover that it's true that the worst drivers in the world are Peruvian. But Nicho checked on us almost every day, and we did fine. At Machu Picchu, Peruvian Soul had arranged our tickets and Wilson, our guide. The experience could not have been better. Wilson was friendly, knowledgeable and flexible. Peg suffered from altitude sickness and had to miss some of the recomended highlights but got to know the towns a little better. Peruvian Soul gets 10 out of 10.

Dear all,
It’s not today that I going to review my experience. But just to let you know that it was by far the most incredible trip that we made. It was not just about the place itself since there are incredible places all around the world, but it was the way you all took care of us. You know when you go to a place and there is a family relative that knows you and he provides not only what you need but also surprises you all the time? That’s how we felt all the time!
Question:
Are all the agency’s that you work with like Peruvian Soul?
If so you have made a difference in the traveling world!!!!

Such an incredible trip. Peru is a beautiful country in its landscapes and it’s culture. The whole vacation was amazing. Sacred Valley, Aguas Callientes, Cusco, and Lima, every part was unique and thoroughly enjoyable. Machu Picchu was obviously the highlight of the trip. Hiking to the Sun Gate was a little rough but absolutely breathtaking, totally worth it. Sacred Valley was probably our favorite part. The salt mines, moray terraces, Ollantantaytambo fortress, and of course the Pachamanca dinner was delicious. Kimkim made it possible to fully enjoy that with as little stress as possible. Our guides were amazing, Julio in Sacred Valley, Freddy in Cusco, and Cynthia in Lima. So friendly and knowledgeable. They made sure we were comfortable, happy, and well fed during our entire stay. The hotels were also great, very welcoming to go back to after a long day of sightseeing. Would definitely return to Peru and definitely recommend kimkim.