Testimonials

“If you’re looking for something special (as opposed to a set formulaic tour planned for what tour companies think an “average tourist” wants), try Kuoda Tours. I wanted to plan a trip to Peru for our 30th wedding anniversary. I had a response overnight, followed by several weeks of what I can only say was exceptional, very personalised service. My agent spent a lot of time getting to know what my wife and I liked to see, hear, eat, do etc., and then designed a package specially tailored to fit our “fantasies”. For example, as he knew I was interested in music, so he arranged a personal demonstration of Andean musical instruments by a local Cusco musician at a musical instrument museum (just us!).

We had indicated that we were not keen on international style hotels with bells and whistles but would prefer to pay a bit extra for quaint/unusual/quirky accommodation. So we got to experience everything from a very Spartan (but magnificent) ex monastery to a home stay with the indigenous people on Amantani island (on the other side from the tourists), to an eco-style hotel, to a very quirky/arty boutique hotel in Cusco. We had said we were interested in trying “new foods” so our agent organized a lunch with a local family in their home in the Sacred Valley (no other tourists) and another lunch to sample traditional Andean cuisine (the real thing).

Guides are also seemingly hand-picked. Our main guide (our week in the Cusco/Sacred Valley area) was without doubt the best travel guide we have ever experienced; a wealth of interesting knowledge and a good companion. Some of the guides seem to have been selected on compatibility grounds (had interests in common with ours or with our professions).

Definitely our best holiday experience so far, so, as you can gather, we have little hesitation recommending Kuoda Travel. (I should also mention that at the end of the holiday we were visited separately by both our agent and the owner of the agency herself for a ‘debriefing”).”

R. Holborn, USA
Peru Luxury Travel, May 2011

“It was a pleasure to meet and dine with you tonight…We had a strong impression that your passion and commitment of providing the best service to your clients are unquestionable.

Please extend our sincere thank you to the rest of the team such as Edson, Tom, and all the drivers and guides. They all do appear to us that they are striving for excellence. We truly appreciate their efforts and time. We believe a key success to any business is its human resources, and you clearly have that factor covered.

Machu Picchu is on our “must travel” list in our life time. We thank you for assisting us in achieving such goal. We wish all the best for you and your team for a successful future.”

C. and D. Ko, USA
Peru Luxury Travel, May 2011

“We had an absolutely wonderful time in Peru.  The entire trip was absolutely seamless with no problems (besides a little stomach issue with my wife).  We were very happy with Kuoda and all the recommends made.  Edward, our guide in Cusco, was fantastic.  The drivers were also all wonderful.  My wife and I had a fantastic time experiencing the food of Peru.  Our highlights were some of the simple things like the stop off at a Chicha restaurant/bar with Edward after Machu Picchu, walking around Cusco, and our favorite experience, having lunch with the family after the Pisac market.  As I mentioned before, this was our first venture to South America.  We both loved it.  The people were all wonderful and we felt very safe the entire trip (though we didn't venture around Lima beyond Miraflores). We have already recommended Kuoda to many of our friends and families who are feeling inspired by our pictures!”

M. Mullinix, USA
Peru Luxury Travel, May 2011

 “We had an amazing time in Peru!  Kuoda did a wonderful job of ensuring that everything went smoothly.  The highlights for the boys were the tree climb in the rainforest (all 4 of us made it to the top!) and seeing Machu Picchu.  The kayaking was also a big hit!  Our rainforest guide, Berly, was terrific with the kids and the lodge was fantastic.  On our last night we filled out the evaluation and my 8-yr-old wrote in that he liked the pancakes.  The next morning at breakfast, Berly presented the boys with pancakes made especially for them! 

At Machu Picchu, our guide Pilar was great and had answers to every question!  So much better than following around a group of 20 and trying to hear your guide!  We really enjoyed the second day at Machu Picchu.  We went up early (but not 4am!) and hiked up to the Sun Gate where we were able to hang out and soak in the spectacular scenery. 

In Cuzco, some of the sites on our agenda (Koricancha & the cathedral) were closed when we were there since it was Holy Friday.  We felt like we saw plenty, but it's probably something to be aware of for tours in future years.  We did get to see Holy Week processions in Cuzco and in some other little towns in the Sacred Valley. In Lima, the day room and the 4-hr tour were perfect.  We were surprised at how much we enjoyed seeing the conquistador's home – it  made the boys study of Pizarro in school seem a lot more real. Thank you for everything!”

The Elliot Family, USA
Peru Luxury Travel, April 2011

“Thank you so very much to all of the people at Kuoda who made our recent April trip to Peru so amazingly beautiful. Our guides at Cusco, Puno and Lima were knowledgeable about their areas, their cultures, and their language. Not only were they informative, but also kind.  They handled our two problems so adeptly: taking good medical care of an injured knee in Cusco; then in Puno, getting us to the airport before the miners' strike blocked the roads. We felt that we were in such good hands! The drivers too were good at their jobs, getting us around safely and quickly, and they too were kind and polite. Many thanks to Edson, Fernando & Benjamin (Cusco), Manuel (Puno) and Alicia (Lima). You all taught us so much about your beautiful country.”

M. McGuinness, USA
Peru Luxury Travel, April 2011

“Kuoda Travel makes the difference in your Travel experience. The best way I can describe working with Kuoda is like traveling with your own staff versus traveling with a low budget tour group that herds you around like cattle. Kuoda is your own staff!  

After sending the first email inquiring about a custom itinerary to Machu Picchu and the Jungle, I figured I would have to wait a couple of days for a reply. I had a reply waiting for me the next morning when I awoke to check messages.  Tom Carroll was my travel planner.  Tom and I worked together to plan exactly what my wife and I wanted out of our Peru vacation. Tom was very prompt in all his replies and communications, as far as I was concerned he could have been in my hometown. The other Peruvian travel agencies were slow to reply and when they did I usually got a cut and paste itinerary from their web page.
When arriving in Cusco, we were met by Edson Chacon at the airport and our personal driver for the week, Hernan, and taken to our first hotel. The hotel exceeded our expectations for what was described as a 3-Star Hotel. It was a small bed and breakfast, boutique-style hotel that was very impressive and the staff was very attentive to our needs. In fact, every hotel that Kuoda selected for our travels fell in the same category.

The next morning we were met by Gaby Puma, our personal guide for the week. Gaby made the trip for us. She was very fluent in English, Spanish and the local language Quechua.  Gabby went above and beyond her duties. She was our guide through Cusco, Machu Picchu and the Sacred Valley. She showed us areas and pointed out interesting artifacts that you just would not be able to get from a large low-budget tour. The best was that she planned our days in such a way that she kept us away from the large typical tourist groups. For me, this was priceless and made us feel like we had the whole place to ourselves.

The second half of our trip was to the Tambopata Jungle, which was arranged through Kuoda. Somehow there was a mistake made in the confirming of the reservations. We had 3 nights 4 days booked but the jungle lodge could only accommodate 2 nights 3 days. In today’s age of technology, humans still make mistakes. I cannot point fingers or lay blame on anyone. We contacted Edson at Kuoda and explained the mistake made with the Rainforest Lodge. We proceeded into the jungle for 2 nights and 3 days. While in the jungle, Kuoda worked on a plan and was able to get communication to us about alternatives that were available to us for the last night that the Jungle lodge could not accommodate. The impressive part is that there were no phones available in the jungle and there was only a small window of time that the jungle lodge could communicate via Internet. My wife and I had no worries that we would be taken care of appropriately and came through with a night in Puerto Maldonado. Overall our experience with Kuoda was incredible. If you are planning a trip to Peru I recommend you personalize it and travel with your own staff (Kuoda) versus a canned and planned tour group. It will make the difference in your experience. Job well done Kuoda!

G. & S. Giffiths, USA
Peru Luxury Travel, April 2011

“I am writing this report for those who may be interested in travelling to South America and who may be interested in using the services of Kuoda Travel. The communication thru email with Thomas (sales team) was fast and with reliable responses. There was no need for any security deposit before he committed to craft an agenda based on our specifications. We were new to South America and wanted to cover as much as possible given our 3 weeks.  Over the 2 months after communicating with Kuoda, I think we went through almost more than 10 revisions till we finally settled on our trip. I would highly recommend using Kuoda Travel if your plans include Peru as we had wonderful experience with the team. The owner Mery Calderon met us personally at the hotel while we were in Cusco and always checking on our needs and what our experiences were like. The team ops person, Edson called us when we reached each new destination to check on our trip progress.”

M. Chuang, Singapore
Peru, Argentina and Brazil Luxury Travel, April 2011

“We are safe at home and still enjoying the memories of our Kuoda Peru trip. I was able to send notes of appreciation to our guides, except for Jimmy, since I did not take his email address. I would appreciate if you could pass the message to him that we enjoyed the time we spent with him and all his efforts to make our trip a success.”

P. Karpoff
Peru Luxury Travel, April 2011

“Just wanted to give you a little feedback on the trip.  We loved it! The guides, Fernando in the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu and Manuel in Puno/Lake Titicaca, were wonderful. They both had interesting information to impart and were very sincere in guiding us through their respective areas.  Dania (I think that’s the spelling) in Lima was also very interesting.  It was fascinating to get the different perspectives re: Inca vs. Spanish culture.  All had good English, and it amazes me that they’re able to be so fluent without having studied in an English-speaking country. 

The hotels were wonderful.  I think my favorite was the one in the Sacred Valley.  It was also great to be able to stay in Machu Picchu an extra day at the hotel there, and do the walk to the Sun Gate.  The Cusco hotel was a little “over the top,” but it was a great location. 

The communication between the main office and guides/clients was good.  We appreciated your getting us to the airport early on the day of the expected strike (even though it meant getting up at 2:30 a.m.!), though it appeared not much came of it.  We saw a lot of people arriving at 8 or so with no apparent trouble.  But nobody knew what would happen, so the early departure was good.  (We were hoping Manuel and the driver would make it back to town with no trouble.) I would have liked more hiking and maybe kayaking (on Lake Titicaca), but I think the others were happy with the level of activity we had.  We needed more time, and maybe one day Bruce and I will return and do the things we missed this time. I will definitely recommend Kuodo Travel to friends and acquaintances.  You do an excellent job.”

J. Kenamore, USA
Peru Luxury Travel, April 2011

“Thank you Kuoda! We felt like we were being hosted by family, not a Tour Company!
Everyone we had the pleasure of meeting treated us with such kindness and respect.
Thank you to Chris in Lima, Jose in Cusco and Jose in Puno. Thank you, Edson; we always knew you were watching over us. And thank you Victoria for all your patience and suggestions to make our tour perfect! 

B. Willis, Canada
Peru Luxury Travel, April 2011

“Hi Victoria, thank you for the note! Year is good so far here in Miami – hope it´s also good for you. I've told many people so far about Kuoda and Peru, so I'll be sure to keep up the referrals!”

P. Spartin, USA
Peru Luxury Travel, March 2011

“Thank you very much. We really enjoyed the visit. Peru is a beautiful, friendly and exceptional country. We loved the nature and people. I think it was great that we went to villages and saw the real life of Peruvians.  I think the organization and trip itself were well planned with few minor things that I mentioned to her. Thank you to Mery that she arranged Cesar to show us Lima. We wouldn't be able to see all we saw ourselves. We had a very good guide and an exceptional driver. Unfortunately, one week is not a lot, but we are really happy we have chosen Peru and Kuoda.”

A. Plotkin, USA
Peru Luxury Travel, March 2011

“I can't remember, after the trip, whether I wrote to you to thank you for all you did for my family and me. It was a trip to remember, and I know my two daughters will remember it for the rest of their lives, as will Tracy and I.

I am hopeful that Tracy and I will be in South America within the next two years or so.  I would really like to go to Ecuador and Chile, so we'll contact you when it comes time to plan the itinerary. Tiffany has the travel bug, now, and she is planning to go to Cambodia and Thailand this coming November.  I'm wondering if you have any tour companies you could suggest.  I know it is a long way from your geographic area, but I was hoping that maybe you have contacts in that area that I might use.  A recommendation from you means a lot to me.”

G. Krinke, USA
Peru Luxury Travel, March 2011

“We recently used Kuoda Travel services to acquaint us with the areas near Cusco and Machu Picchu and Colca Canyon. Geri Rodriguez made the arrangements with you several months ago.

I wanted to compliment the guides and drivers we had during our stay in Peru.  In Cusco, Theresa and Roberto took care of us and the care was of the first order.  Theresa showed herself to be knowledgeable, personable and very patient with us.  She filled us with interesting facts about both the history and current situations in the area.  Once or twice she was able to quickly and decisively make last minute adjustments to our itinerary to be sure we maximized our time there.  In addition, she was very personable and was quick to anticipate our individual needs - even when we hadn't made them obvious.  Our lunch with Aida and Herman in Calca was a highlight. It was obvious that they enjoyed seeing Theresa and it was very nice to have that personal connection with Peruvian family life.

Also Roberto took good care of us and proved to be a very safe and savvy driver.  I will personally recommend Theresa to anyone we know who is planning on traveling to Peru and using Kuoda Travel.  Please greet her for me.

In Arequipa, Victor and his driver (name forgotten) took us overnight to Colca Canyon.  He too proved to possess a lot of knowledge of the area and was a good guide. Thank you for your help in making our trip a grand success.  I'm sure we'll use your services when we visit Peru again.”

G. Merseth, USA
Peru Luxury Travel, March 2011

“We all had a fantastic time.  We were so happy to have Betsheila as our primary guide...can't say enough good things about her.  She kept a perfect schedule, yet we never felt rushed.  She had in-depth knowledge about every place we visited and always kept everything interesting.  On a personal level, she really clicked with our group and we feel like we made our first Peruvian friend. Nicknamed "Denis the Menace" on Day 1, our driver was always professional and was never a menace on the roadways.  We always felt safe with him and he always kept the van spotless. Edson was great, checking in with me nightly to make sure all was well. Really outstanding service. Hotel-wise, we were blown away by the casitas at Sol y Luna...definitely a highlight of the trip. Hatun Inti was nice enough except for a couple of issues. All of that being said, we had the trip of lifetime.  The cultural activities planned were spot-on with what we were looking for.  This was a first private tour for all of us, and it was a great experience.  I would absolutely recommend Kuoda to any of my friends and family without reservation.  You all did an outstanding job...thanks Tom.”

D. Kalira, USA
Peru Luxury Travel, March 2011

“We had a wonderful time and everything went very smoothly. The hotels were great and exceeding our expectations.  The guides we had for both the trek and while in Cusco (Hector) were very knowledgeable and friendly. As for pictures, will send you some once I have uploaded them on to the computer. Thanks again for all of your help.”

V. Samala, USA
Peru Luxury Travel, March 2011

“It´s been a while since our trip, but wanted to relate to you how very much Daryl and I loved Peru and the trip.  Everything was far and above our expectations.  Everything went very smoothly expect for the Puno part - there seemed to be an issue with our bus reservations [which your guide handled very well] then ran into same situation at the hotel in Puno - again the guide there handled very professionally - and of course the mess up with the time of our flight back to Lima - different from our itinerary and getting us in too late to get to the museum that we had planned - but all worked out in the end.  The guide in Puno was great.  But have to tell you that we both really loved Shelia in Cusco - Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu - how lucky for us that we had her for the longest time.  She is a gem - not only knowledgeable and a wealth of information but she really made us feel that it was our time to spend where we wanted to. I can't praise her enough!!!!  The home lunch at Ida's was incredible - the meal was by far the best we had in Peru and what a wonderful couple - was one of our highlights of the trip.”

C. Zionce, USA
Peru Luxury Travel, February 2011

 “Thank you for all of your help in getting our trip organized - I know it was last minute and appreciate all of your effort and keeping us informed.  Have recommended Kuoda to all of my friends and also on Fodors blog. Well, it was too bad to have to revert to our normal routines here, but we had this "Machu Picchu high" that lasted for several days after we got back, which made things much easier.  Thanks so much to you, Rina, Willy, Cesar and Edson for making things work so well and for finding such great things for us to do and places to stay.  (We enjoyed meeting you, too.)  We have already forwarded our itinerary to several neighbors who want to take a similar trip, and you may expect to hear from them. Machu Picchu obviously is an experience without comparison.  We were extremely glad, on balance, that we were there in the rainy season -- it must be unbearably hot and crowded, or at least a lot less magical, in the (US) summer.  We've been making that point to friends who have asked about going. All the other Inca ruins we saw were also much more impressive than we had expected, especially Pisac and Ollantaytambo.
We had some concern about the visits to the Andean village and Awanakancha -- we were afraid either that they might be tourist traps or that we would feel like the indigenous people were embarrassed to be showing off for us.  But they were both very pleasant visits. Lunch with the artist's family (I'm sorry I've forgotten their name) was also really enjoyable. The señora is very gracious and funny, and a good cook.
The Inkaterra MP was extraordinary.  There probably is some virtue in staying at the Sanctuary, but Inkaterra and its extensive grounds were gorgeous and we would stay there again if we came back.  The food was also especially good. Sol & Luna was also a little spot of paradise, with equally good food. Casa San Blas was less distinctive, but the view was certainly impressive from the upstairs patio. Limo is a great place.  They went far out of their way to be helpful and to accommodate us once we mentioned Kuoda to them.  The food was outstanding and the view of the New Year's festivities was unsurpassed.  The service was also exceptional.  You should steer people to Cusco for New Year's if that's feasible and suggest they make reservations well in advance-- we were just there by coincidence, but what a coincidence! Spending the first night at the airport hotel was wise. The DoubleTree in Lima was very nice and in a good neighborhood for walking around.  We ended up just doing a paseo from there to the nearby parks. Rosa Nautica is expensive and the service was kind of slow, but the food was excellent and the setting is beautiful.  On balance we would go there again. Rina could not have been warmer or more considerate.  She clearly loves showing people the Inca ruins -- it comes out in her work.  She gave us an understanding of and appreciation for what we were seeing that we could never have had on our own.
Once again, a spectacular trip, and we were very happy we chose Kuoda to help arrange it!”

J. & K. Conrad, USA
Peru Luxury Travel, January 2011

“Thanks, Tom.  It was a great trip, with lots of great photos. Thanks, and we'll reach out next time we head down to Peru.”

Hallman/Mesman Family, USA
Peru Luxury Travel, January 2011

“Para nosotros el viaje a Peru fue inolvidable! La atencion que usted y  todos los de Kuoda pusieron en todos los detalles hizo que nuestro viaje saliera perfecto! No tengo las palabras suficientes para agradecerle a usted y a Kuoda por habernos organizado un viaje tan lindo donde no nos teniamos que preocupar de NADA menos pasarla bien!

Los hoteles estuvieron lindos, los vehiculos de transporte nuevos y limpios, los choferes y guias amables, y los restaurantes con comida muy rica. Todos en nuestra familia seguimos recordando y platicando lo increible que estuvo este viaje! Mil gracias!

El Hotel Miraflores, como usted nos habia dicho, es un hotel muy bonito con muy buen servicio y habitaciones muy lindas. Mi hermana no tuvo ningun problema en tener a sus tres hijos en una habitacion -- creo que usted les habia hecho la reservacion para una mini-suite. Que habitacion! La habitacion tenia un jacuzzi, del tamano de una picina pequena, y un sauna dentro del cuarto! Los ninos se la pasaron de maravilla ahi!

A nosotros nos encanto llegarla a conocer en persona. Que linda que vino a vernos la noche de año nuevo. Espero que se la haya pasado muy bien con su familia festejando la llegada del 2011. Nosotoros cenamos en el hotel y luego nos fuimos para la Plaza. Que experiencia!!

Despues de hechar las fotos que no nos gustaron, nos quedamos como con 1300! ... le mando la que es para mi mi favorita, no porque es la mas bonita, ni porque es la que esta mejor tomada, ni es la mas turistica, sino porque es la que mejor captura lo bien que la pasamos nosotros (los primos) y todos nuestros hijos. ... Espero que la disfrute usted tambien! La foto es de nuestros hijos y fue tomada en Machu Picchu cerca del Recinto del Guardian.

Le mando saludos carinosos de toda nuestra familia, y le deseamos un 2011 lleno de salud y felicidad.”

E. Schlusselberg, USA
Peru Luxury Tour, January 2011

"Both Filippo and I were quite pleased with the trip and the work you did to make it special. From my point of view the highlights were our guide in Cuzco and Machu Picchu as she made all that she took us to come alive. We found her knowledgeable, enthusiastic and quite personable. We were so happy that we decided to stay at the Monasterio as it too was one of the trip highlights. I would certainly not hesitate to recommend Kuoda and have already told my travel agent about you. Please don't hesitate to contact me if you have any questions."

A. Gottlieb, USA
January 2011

"Wanted to let you know we are back home and to say what a wonderful time we had in Peru. It was so nice to have all our arrangements made and everything taken care of for us. We loved our guides and driver and the lovely accommodations. Thank you so much!"

K. Stanwix, USA
January 2011

"We are all back in our regular orbits and missing Peru greatly. I wouldn't mind moving there! First of all, thank you for putting together a great itinerary, and managing perfectly all the numerous travel arrangements – from flight and hotel bookings, van rentals, excellent guides, and that most wonderful lunch we had at Ida's house! It was nice of you to come and meet with us when we re ached Cusco... made the experience more personal. Kuoda's choice of hotels was perfect, as was the choice of guides like Maria and Jose Louis. Both were very knowledgeable, diligent in managing our travel, and a pleasure to interact with. Fernando at Refugio was terrific as well - he arranged extra hikes to satisfy our need to experience more of the forest. Thanks also to Lewis Guerra who received us in the Lima airport late at night when we came in from Houston.  Happy New Year to you and the rest of the Kuoda family!"

Mukerji Family, USA
January 2011

"We all had a wonderful time, even though it was brief. Kuoda (and Edson) did a great job in coordinating our travel, as we hopped from city to city, from plane to car, to bus to boat. Traveling with children in unfamiliar surroundings is never easy and your professional staff made it stress-free for us, allowing us to enjoy the beauty and charm of your country. The guides - especially Luis in Puerto Maldonado and Gabby in Cuzco/Machu Picchu were excellent. They accommodated our needs, were flexible when they needed to be, while still managing to get us through our program. Very professional of them! Thanks again for a wonderful time and keep up the good work!"

S.Rajgopal, USA
January 2011

"We had a fantastic trip. We loved Peru and the service of Kuoda Travel. As I found your company from positive reviews, I would now like to add mine as well."

J. Wilson, USA
December 2010

"Regarding Kuoda and your services, I have only one complaint. You guys are so unbelievably fantastic that everyone else pales in comparison! We felt totally spoiled by Kuoda. Edward was the most astonishingly great guide; Miguel was warm and friendly always; Edson was always there orchestrating - it was such an outstanding experience that really has been unmatched by anyone else. The trip was truly fantastic. I know I can speak for us both to say it ended up being a trip of a lifetime. I am now a huge iguana fan! I think I have at least 200 photos of the little guys! I really do feel Kuoda is a very special company that is devoted to customer service and delivers. I have had enough experiences (such as being abandoned in Morocco) with travel companies that I do know you really are exceptional – a best travel agency. I am so glad I came upon your site and we both thank you from the bottom of our hearts. Thank you again, Jerusha. You did a fantastic job of planning the perfect vacation. I have already given your name to three people who are thinking of going to Peru."

P. Worock, Canada
November 2010

"I have had a very busy week since my return from Peru. I still can't believe that I was actually there! I told you that I cried when I finally saw Machu Picchu. It was a fantastic journey filled with surprises. Kuoda was above and beyond all my expectations. We could not have asked for anything more. The hotels that we stayed at were wonderful. Our favorite was San Blas in Cusco. We also loved El Albergue in Ollantaytambo. I think we had the very best room. The view was wonderful. Everyone was so friendly and helpful. And then there was Ernesto. What a gem. We could not have had a better guide. He was so passionate about his heritage. He treated us like we were family. What a very intelligent man. Louis, our driver, was so cute. Even though he could not understand us, we made sure he was part of all the laughs we had. And we certainly laughed a lot. I hope that Ernesto had as good a time as we did. Cesar, our driver in Lima, was also wonderful. We were not with him as much, but he is a very knowledgeable man. We enjoyed him. Oh Jerusha, thank you so much for being patient with all my questions and concerns. I had no need to worry. I will return to Peru and see all the sights that we did not have time to explore on this trip. Thank you again for all you did to make this journey so memorable."

M. DiMauro, USA
November 2010

"We had simply the best time. Thanks for helping us plan a completely perfect honeymoon. Hard to note highlights since every single part was new and interesting, not to mention fun and luxurious. Perhaps if we had to choose, highlights would be cooking with the chef in the Sacred Valley, Machu Picchu of course (we in particular loved our hotel) and Cusco was ridiculously beautiful. Actually every single accommodation we had was perfect. Thank you again!"

J. and J. Thom, Canada
November 2010

"We loved Peru!! The trip you planned for us was perfect! Kati, our guide, from Cusco was the best. We couldn't have gotten any better. We had no problems that I saw the whole time and when we wanted to change a few things, it was no problem. We can't thank you enough. We are telling everyone how great Peru is and hope someone else decides to go. If they do I'll send them your way. Thanks again."

J. Cozze, USA
November 2010

"I thoroughly enjoyed my trip to Peru thanks to Kuoda's excellent service! Kathy and Alicia were very knowledgeable and I left knowing that I learned a lot about Peru. The drivers were also excellent as well as other staff that checked on my happiness almost daily. All the hotels were wonderful and the food was fantastic. Thanks for a great experience!"

R. Stowe, USA
November 2010

"What a trip - it was wonderful! Thank you, thank you all!! I think we were most impressed by Peru's diversity, geographic as well as cultural! Since we had previously spent some time in Peru's Amazon, we were intrigued by the dramatic differences on the coast and in the highlands. There is something unique to see every few miles! We could easily spend more time in the beautiful cities of Cusco and Arequipa; Machu Picchu and Lake Titicaca are fascinating; and meeting the ladies and children in the highland village was certainly a memorable stop for us. Peruvian people are some of the warmest we've met in the world. And of course, the food - we loved it, even the cuy!! The local guides were experts, which, for us, made our Peru tour one of the best experiences in all our travels. You managed everything! When we actually had to start paying attention to the plane tickets home, I felt like we were coming out of a dream! Jerusha, from the moment we first talked, I felt comfortable that we were in good hands. You perfectly tailored the itinerary to our interests, physical abilities and timeframe. And during the entire two weeks of the trip, the guides and Edson regularly asked about our satisfaction with the tour, showing a sincere interest in our personal level of comfort and expectation. Your team finds the best guides and very safety conscious drivers! Each guide reviewed with us the following day's itinerary, and without fail, we were met on time. And it seemed to us (we asked!) that there is a mutual respect between the guides and people at Kuoda, with everyone committed to providing us, the clients, with the best possible experience. Kudos to you, Mery, and your best travel agency, Kuoda!"

L. and L. Lutchansky, USA
October 2010

"I am not really sure where to begin and how to put into words my feelings about our recent trip to Peru. Without doubt one of our best trips ever and Kuoda had a lot to do with it. The beauty of the country and warmth of the Peruvian people was reflected in the people who work at Kuoda. From the moment we arrived and were met at the airport, we knew we were in good hands. Kuoda made us feel comfortable and that we were taken care of by friends and family. A truly worry-free experience with attention to detail. Always prompt pick-ups and itineraries that were customized on a daily basis to enhance our experience. A special thanks to Sheila who spoke with enthusiasm and great knowledge about her homeland. She became like a close relative who shared her country with us. Miguel, Senior Siesta, who made us feel safe on those crazy back roads. Thank you. To Edson who worked hard behind the scenes to make sure everything worked like clock-work, even making phone calls to us along the way to make sure we were doing OK. We appreciate all he did. To Mery who met us at the airport at the end of our holidays. She is beautiful inside and out. Thanks for almost making us cry when we left. Peru will have a special place in our heart and so will all our new friends and family at Kuoda. The small local tour company that could and did come through for us."

Dr. Ch. Migas, Canada
October 2010

"First of all we want to thank you SOOO much for the amazing dinner at Cicciolina...it was beyond our expectations. I tried cuy for the first time...had it as an appetizer in a confit served over a yellow mash of potatoes. DELICIOUS!!. We all agreed the rest of the dinner was equally wonderful. Next, we want to thank you for upgrading our rooms here in Puno. They are beautiful and HUGE and the service is lovely. What a treat!! Our guide here, Jose, is a doll and we have enjoyed him so much. It's really a plus that you hire guides that have grown up in the area where they are guiding...it makes the trip seem even more personal. Mery, you are running a first-rate organization – a best travel agency. We loved the lunch experience today at the little family run restaurant on Taquile. There was a larger group there as well, but Jose asked them to seat us in the family's courtyard area...so it was our own little private dining room on the shores of the magnificent lake, with the children playing at our feet. It was another "It doesn't get any better than this" moment...of which we have had more than we can count on this trip."

L. Frey and Party, USA

October 2010

"Very much enjoyed meeting you in Cusco during our trip to Peru. Our trip was fantastic! We saw and experienced much more than we had expected, due entirely to your careful planning and our knowledgeable guides. Our hotels were all excellent, as were the restaurants where we were able to enjoy authentic Peruvian cuisine. You really do offer customized travel and unique and unforgettable travel experiences!! We're already thinking about another trip to Peru, Ecuador, and Bolivia. We would be remiss if we did not tell you about our wonderful guides and drivers. Katherina and Carlos were a great team; Katherina taught us a great deal about Peruvian culture and the everyday lives of the Peruvian people. We especially enjoyed our visit to the lady weavers in the Andean community. Our guide in Puno, David, treated us to a visit to a pre-Incan temple on Taquile Island and he performed a ritual passed down from his father. Our host in Lima, Cesar, was extremely helpful in getting us in and out of the airport, driving us around town, and telling us about life in Lima. And it was comforting to know that Edson was tracking our travels during our visit. Thank you, again, for your hospitality."

P. and K. Leonard, USA
September 2010

"We had a fabulous trip! Kuoda absolutely exceeded our expectations in every way. The tour guides and drivers were amazing! We were especially thankful to everyone that worked so hard to still get us to Machu Picchu with the recent strike. We took over 800 pictures! I will send a few select pictures to you along with some of the trip highlights. Thanks again for everything!"

M. B. Rowles, USA
September 2010

"I wanted to follow up with you to thank you and Kuoda Travel again for a wonderful trip. So first - thank you again VERY much from my entire family. I could not have imagined a better introduction to Peru. You have an expert and experienced team and the friendliness, knowledge, and attention to detail of your staff is among the best I have experienced in many years of travel across five continents. Mery, thanks again for sharing your team with us (in particular, please thank Marie Teresa again!) and all the best to Kuoda in future."

D. Vance and Family
September 2010

"Thanks again for the great service of your whole staff, esp. the Cusco staff. It was a pleasure to meet Mery and good of her to take me shopping for sweaters. Very good trip."

P. and J. Condon, USA
September 2010

"I want to thank you for the good planning and execution of our trip, which matched our expectations and will be kept in our memories for long time. We enjoyed very much the Amazonas jungle, specially the Refugio Amazonas Lodge which was very unique. Cusco was a great fun, the rafting was enjoyable and challenging in a decent level. The Inca Trail was, with no doubt, the peak of the trip - remarkable views, good guide, excellent food and a true physical challenge. The idea to add the Titicaca Floating Islands was very good. The trip to the Bolivian desert was also very nice, great views. All the hotels were very good. So, basically everything was great, and I want to thank you very much on behalf of the group!!"

D. Steinfeld and party, ISRAEL
September 2010

"The entire trip was wonderful and well planned. Everyone was wonderful from Kuoda. You did a great job. We would absolutely recommend Kuoda and use you again if we travel to the area. The highlights were the people and scenery. You are great and we so appreciate your attention. All-in-all a great experience. Hasta Luego!"

S. Albright and party, USA
September 2010

"Our experience in Peru was perfect, thanks to Kuoda. The planned itinerary was excellent, the execution was flawless, we were grateful for the constant attention and support – including the quick reaction to the bag forgotten in a van. We are very grateful. Thank you!"

D. Kahneman and Family, USA
August 2010

"Let me first tell you that it was a great experience travelling with you. Everything went smoothly, according to the plan, with no problems. The guides were all excellent (especially Sheila). We were very happy to meet you personally in Cusco and we share the same warm feelings with you. Again, we all thank you very much."

I . Domb and party, ISRAEL
August 2010

"We had a great time. We really enjoyed the guides, Delford in the jungle was amazing, Luis was fabulous, Lisabeth was great and Magally, you couldn't not look at her and not want to smile back. Manuel was kind also. Peru was wonderful and I would recommend your company to anyone thinking of going. You do run a very organized company and the trip was very smooth and professional. It was a first for us to have guides like this. Thank you!"

C. Reysbergen, USA
August 2010

"I am been very busy since I got home but wanted to share my thoughts with you on our trip. First of all Rudy did an outstanding job as did our driver, who kept the car very clean and drove with the utmost care. We all are very independent travelers and have never used a tour company or guides before. But this trip we only had a few days in Peru and knew that this was too special of a place for us to try to do by ourselves. So we turned our trust over to you and a fine job you did. I feel that we got 110% of our money´s worth and this trip was worth every cent. I could have not done a better job myself even for two times the price. The accommodations, food and transportation were all very comfortable and made you feel more "local" then tourist. Rudy really kept an eye out for us and made sure we had a good time and took very good care of us. You and your staff did such a great job I will be forever grateful."

P. Lemieux and party, USA
August 2010

"We finally got home and unpacked and now it's time to say thank you!! We had a wonderful trip - truly a once in a lifetime adventure! Your office staff did a perfect job planning our trip, and your field staff (drivers and guides) did an equally perfect job showing us your beautiful country and its friendly people. The sites were spectacular, the people were some of the most friendly and knowledgeable we've ever met, the food was awesome and the hotels... what can I say? The Monasterio is truly world-class, the Sanctuary was a real jewel and being upgraded to the Imperial Suite at the Casa Andina Arequipa was an incredible, unexpected treat. P.S. Please let us know when you begin planning trips elsewhere in South America. We want to be repeat customers!!"

B. Frint, USA
August 2010

"It's hard to believe it's been three weeks since we left Peru - the time has flown. We wanted to thank you for the marvelous time we had in your country and the amazing arrangements you made for us. I feel we got really the best Peru has to offer. Our guides were excellent. We enjoyed meeting you in Cusco, and we wish you the best in the future for you and your growing family. Aloha (means hello, goodbye and love in Hawaiian)!

W. and L. Jong, USA
July 2010

"We had a great time in Peru and really appreciate all the work you and everyone at Kuoda put in to make sure our vacation was wonderful. The memories will be with us forever. A big THANK YOU to our guides; they were the best!! Please say hi to Ruben, Edward and Evan for us. Their knowledge and enthusiasm made for a fun and educational trip. Ruben's knowledge of the flora and fauna of the jungle was incredible, and I know we saw a lot of things other groups didn't because of his knowledge and willingness to spend a little more time to really make sure we enjoyed things. Edward was my personal favorite. Again I was amazed by his knowledge of the history and the area. I especially liked the way he related to Conor and Maegan. They both had a great time largely because of the guides. What made the trip really special were the more personal touches like the trip to the village to meet and watch the women weave."

Richards Family, USA
July 2010

"We really enjoyed our trip - Kuoda did a great job. The guides were all fantastic - both the Kuoda guides and the Llama Path guides on the Inca trail. They were very knowledgeable and enthusiastic. The drivers also did a phenomenal job. We've organized "private" tours previously, but we've never had a company that gave us such personal attention. It's wonderful that you take the time to personally meet all of your clients and show them how passionate you are about making their tour a success. Your team shares this enthusiasm as well. We would certainly recommend Kuoda to others considering travel in Peru. Please extend our thanks to your team - hopefully we will meet again in the future!"

J. and C. Bernick, USA
July 2010

"My family and I just returned from our trip to Peru and still, two weeks later, we all have a glow from our incredible experience. You planned and executed a superb itinerary. Truly, it was a hassle-free trip (which, when traveling internationally, is no small feat.) Lourdes, our guide for most of the trip, had the trifecta of the perfect guide: 1) knowledgeable, 2) flexible, and 3) patient. She was our "Inca Mama" and our trip simply would not have been the same without her. I've attached a photo of her here, taken during our visit to Machu Picchu. Thank you for your professionalism, your attention to detail, and your thoroughness, from booking to our farewell dinner in Cusco. I will not be able to recommend Kuoda highly enough to anyone considering a trip to Peru."

B. Costello, USA
June 2010

"Barbara and I would like to express our great appreciation for all that you, and your staff did to make our recent vacation to Ecuador and Peru so memorable. Tonight, we have been downloading our pictures which brought back so many fond memories (together we have taken over 2500 pictures, which we will need to consolidate before showing them to our friends). The drivers were all very knowledgeable and courteous, and the guides were helpful, understanding, especially sympathetic to Barbara's bronchitis, and my shoulder issues. They made the trips enjoyable and personable with their detailed knowledge of the places we visited, their English was outstanding, and their grasp of vocabulary brilliant. Sometimes, information can just be poured at you so that your mind ceases to take it in, but your guides made visiting each location not only interesting, but memorable too. I would like to think that they too enjoyed their time with us as much as we did with them. The hotels that you selected for us were comfortable, safe, and centrally located to all the places that we could want to see on our own and your recommendations for restaurants equally good. All-in-all, this was a wonderful, well-scheduled, and thoroughly organized private trip, and we appreciate your patience in working with us over the months of planning to get it "just right'. We were met by your representatives on time, and as scheduled in our detailed itinerary, which we were able to alter as circumstances required, or as we requested; the guides, and drivers being only too pleased to work with us to anticipate our needs. We really enjoyed the variety of travel methods employed in our itinerary, especially the Galapagos yacht and the Andean train, but most of all just having the private use of a vehicle, driver, and expert guide to reach our destinations in comfort, security, and more importantly, at our own pace. You treated us like family, and for that we are most grateful, and this vacation will long remain in our memory, especially through Barbara's scrapbook, and my diary, yet to be written. It is our hope that we may stay in touch and if we can provide to any of your potential customers assurance of your wonderful company, its organizational skills, and its caring attitude, we would be delighted to do so. Thank you again Mery, for making that extra effort to ensure our vacation was such a success, we certainly appreciated it."

R. and B. Caselton, USA
June 2010

"We had a great time in Peru! We enjoyed every aspect of our journey, but, of course, the highlight was Machu Picchu. What an amazing place! It exceeded our expectations. We can't thank you and the entire Kuoda staff enough for such an incredible experience. Every Kuoda representative that we encountered was very professional, knowledgeable, and friendly – from Alex and Lisbeth to Marta and our dear driver, Jose Luis. We adored him. We truly appreciate all of your assistance in putting this fantastic trip together on such short notice. You made it so easy for us. The entire experience from start to finish was wonderful."

Ch. Tucker, USA
June 2010

"I wanted to thank you again for the wonderful trip that you and your team provided to my father and I. Everything during the trip was wonderful and we were taken care of every step of the way. The itinerary you created for us was perfect, given the length of time we had. My only regret is that I didn't plan for a longer vacation, because we had such a great time. All of the guides and drivers we had were exceptional, but I have to specifically mention Julio and Miguel. Miguel has excellent driving skills and his unflappable nature during the occasional difficult (and/or congested) driving conditions was a marvel to us, as we are used to seeing a lot of impatient and discourteous drivers at home. We really enjoyed having Julio as our guide; he is very knowledgeable, helpful and personable. He helped us try to find the location of a particular shop during our guided tour of Cusco, and when we found that it had moved (requiring a taxi ride out of the historical area of town), he volunteered to meet us the next morning and accompany us to the shop. That he would accompany us on his day off to make sure we found the shop and assist with any necessary language translation was very much appreciated. We really enjoyed both their company. Being able to see Machu Picchu was the intent of this trip and while it was the highlight, I did not expect to become so enamored with the Sacred Valley's beauty, culture and the warmth of its people. I think that touring with your company allowed us to connect on a more personal level and I was truly sad to leave. It really did feel like we were leaving friends. A direct result of how much I enjoyed this trip is that it has created a desire to return, which I hope to do before too much time passes by."

Ch. Lee, USA
June 2010

"It's not the little things Kuoda does that makes a difference, it's everything. From the start of the booking process with the level of information provided and their flexibility, to the final goodbye after touring with each guide, the experience and their service is just exceptional and exceeded all our expectations. Mery, as Managing Director, has a wonderful team working with her and she sets the standard like her visiting our group with a doctor when two of us were ill and somehow achieving multiple room upgrades for us. It's obvious that Kuoda is not only popular with those who tour with them but also the properties where Kuoda guests stay. The final itinerary suggested, after our input, was just perfect for the amount of activities and leisure time. The guides are all very knowledgeable and pitch the level of information provided perfectly. They are also very friendly, good humored and very caring. The drivers were all excellent and the properties at which we stayed were comfortable and close to the main attractions or organized to reduce travel stress. Rather than just a generic itinerary, Kuoda appear to really think about each individual program to make sure each guest has the best possible experience. They may be somewhat more expensive than some others but you pay for what you get and what you get with Kuoda is fabulous value for money and a brilliant holiday experience."

R. MacDougall, Australia
June 2010

"Having just returned from my trip to Peru with Kuoda, I can wholeheartedly recommend them to anyone who is interested in a great customized tour operator in Peru. We were impressed with their customer service from the minute we began our email exchanges while working out the itinerary. We were VERY involved in every location and hotel choice and we asked many, many questions. They never complained and responded quickly to every question. We had certain things in mind and they made some (excellent) recommendations. We spent the first four days in the Sacred Valley and we absolutely loved the area. The landscapes are amazing and we loved the special events Kouda arranged – a market trip with a local chef in the Sacred Valley followed by him preparing a lunch for us in his restaurant (one of the best meals we had on the entire trip - thanks Ricardo!); and another lunch in the private home of a Peruvian couple which was amazing – both the food and the company. In addition, they took us to a local village which no other tour company visits to see weavers and it was a very moving experience. All this and I haven't even mentioned Machu Picchu yet! Our private guide, for most of the trip, Maria Teresa, was so friendly and helpful and she was chock full of knowledge about everything we were seeing. Raul, our driver, was always smiling, extremely conscientious and punctual and, most importantly, an excellent driver! We felt like we were traveling with our friends. As far as we are concerned the convenience, comfort and peace-of -mind offered with a private customized tour (with the best hotels!) is priceless. And Kuoda was by far our best private tour experience to date. We received 2 phone calls during the trip from Mery Calderon, Kuoda's Director who arranged our trip, just to check in on us and make sure we were enjoying ourselves. She made a point to come to our hotel in Cusco to meet us to talk about our experiences in Peru. We loved her! Mery Calderon is extremely customer-service focused… That is her true goal. We were very happy to hear that she has expanded their services to the Galapagos and by next year they will be going to Argentina. We were thrilled as we will definitely travel with them again!!"

L. Spina, USA
June 2010

"We Sharmas had an absolutely wonderful time in Peru and I think we want to come back to South America and you bet we will use your agency again. I loved having both Maria and Lisbeth be our guides. They were both so excellent that I actually felt my eyes tear up to say good bye to them. I have already spread the word to two parties from work that are planning a similar trip, so you will be hearing from them soon."

A. Sharma, USA
June 2010

"We absolutely loved our days spent with Rudy - he did a fantastic job and was pleasure to be around. His quick wit, brought many laughs. Rudy's ability to relate his knowledge of Inca history and Peru was extremely helpful and informative - especially for first time visitors. You are very fortunate to have him as part of your team, and we were very fortunate to have him on ours! The itinerary you planned fit our needs perfectly - thank you for paying such good attention to detail."

G. and D. Bergquist, USA
June 2010

"Thank you very much for everything, we had an unforgettable vacation, and Kuoda has been flawless. Marijana has already given our itinerary to her boss, so you might be getting another client. Once again, thanks for a first-class experience. We'll never forget it."

Dr. M. Budisin, Canada
May 2010

"First, let me thank you for the wonderful job your tour company did on our trip that we completed this morning. We are now home safely. Your company saw to our every need and was very professional. Our guides at each stop were so knowledgeable about the areas we visited. We have already recommended Kuoda to several people that we have met along the way as we tourists compared the companies we were using. I expect that you will hear from one or more of them."

K. and M. Baker, USA
May 2010

"Highlights of the trip were Machu Picchu of course, next was the Nazca lines and then the floating islands of Uros. We also really enjoyed seeing how the people live in Peru. It was great just driving through the countryside and seeing day-to-day life. The itinerary that you worked out for us was awesome. We felt like we saw different aspects of Peru, rural and city, as well as different parts of Peru in the short time we had available. The time layout was good for us. Guides were good. Sheila remains our favorite. We also enjoyed our city tour of Lima as an add-on. Vanessa was fun and interesting! Hope all is well with you. You did a fabulous job for us. We never will forget our time in Peru."

C. and K. Raabe, USA
May 2010

"We can't thank you and the whole Kuoda team enough for everything you did to make our vacation in Peru so special. We had always traveled independently in the past so were a little hesitant about the idea of signing up with an agency, but Kuoda's philosophy, customized itinerary, and individualized service were perfect. We especially appreciated your flexibility and quick action when a weather delay caused us to miss our connection to Lima. You did a great job rearranging our internal flights, hotels, and itinerary at the last minute to make sure we didn't miss out on anything. The attention to every detail made the trip hassle-free for us and we saw and learned so much more than we could have on our own – the weavers in the local village, the private music demonstration and the trip to the local food market in Cusco were fantastic. All of the guides and drivers were extremely knowledgeable and professional and we really enjoyed our time with them. (Not to slight anyone else, but Kathy and Freddie are outstanding!) Peru is a beautiful country and the people are amazing. We hated to leave and would come back in a minute! Thank you again for sharing and for being such wonderful hosts."

B. and P. DeSalvo, USA
May 2010

"It was our pleasure to have your company in Cusco. Pity the time we spent together was too short. Thank you for all the arrangements, we appreciate the effort and care you took in the selection of the places we stayed at, our various guides and drivers who were all wonderful and really made our vacation very enjoyable indeed."

E. Tan, USA
May 2010

"The trip was great, thanks to the Kuoda Team, who organized our 15 day trip to Peru, from the jungle trip, the Sierra, as well as to Lake Titicaca, with memorable experiences that will be treasured for years to come. If there is one highlight to mention it has to be the visit to Machu Picchu. The first time we saw the Lost City of the Inca, we were speechless; pictures cannot really do justice to it. On the second day of our visit, it was all misty and dreamlike, so unreal. We also enjoyed the gourmet experience at Sol Y Luna in The Sacred Valley. It was a nice surprise, unexpected. That was also the first time we tried Cuy, which was delicious. We also tasted Alpaca during lunch at the Andean Explorer, which looked and tasted like beef."

A. and S. Santojo, Canada
May 2010

"I wanted to thank you and the Kuoda team for an absolutely fantastic two weeks in Peru! We loved it and wanted to stay longer. Cusco and Machu Picchu were breathtaking and Las Arenas de Mancora was perfect! Really!"

D. Force, USA
April 2010

"We wanted to tell you how happy we were with the trip, and how much we appreciate the efforts by you and your staff to get us through our whirlwind trip of southern Peru. We have a lot of great memories from the two weeks we spent in the various locations. The guides were great and very kid-friendly (our son still misses Eduard from Cusco). And getting the blanket we left on the bus in Puno back to us before we left the country was over the top in terms of service - we could not have been happier."

J. Eakle, USA
April 2010

"Thank you, Mery Calderon, for running Kuoda, a "class-act company," hand-picking "cream-of-the crop" staff, and treating us like honored family members during our 11-day stay. Our personal guides, Maria-Teresa, Carlos, and Alvaro, as well as personal drivers, Freddie and George, each did their best to contribute towards a seamlessly performed plan from our welcoming arrival, to our reluctant departure. Unfortunately there is so much to Peru, that those 11-days barely touched the heart of the country. We came as tourists, left as friends, and look forward to our return. You are the best, and you've made us really care about the Peruvian people we've had the pleasure to meet, especially your staff."

T. and R. Gunter, USA
April 2010

"We are back in Dallas after an amazing trip! I can't say enough wonderful things about you, the guides and the way our whole trip ran so smoothly. I'll send you a more detailed email later, but I just wanted to say thank you!!!! We all loved Percy and Carlos!! They were amazing!"

L. Corson, USA
April 2010

"Great to meet you last night. I was a bit tired and it's always a little difficult to have a conversation with the kids - especially Drew - around. As I told you we have loved this tour. Peru is an incredible country. We are so sorry that we don't have more time here. Sheila has been so great to us. We will miss her a lot!! I know how hard you and your staff worked to make this trip successful for us - and it truly was. All the best."

H. Floger, USA
March 2010

"The kids arrived home in the middle of the night on Monday. Leah called around 10 a.m. the next morning to tell me of their wonderful time and how much you and your staff did to make the trip, not only memorable, but fun and exciting. She did not have a negative thing to say and she said that everything was just perfectly planned for them. Leah has her photos on Facebook and my friends are telling me that they are fabulous pictures. I don't belong to Facebook, so I haven't seen them yet. Our family went out to dinner on Tuesday evening to our favorite Mexican restaurant...Don Jose's. Eric and Leah shared a lot more about their time in Peru and their Inca Trail hike to Machu Picchu. They were so impressed with Raul. Eric and Leah said that their porters were dressed in nice attire with sturdy hiking boots. They said that it wasn't the case with other groups and they felt sorry for groups with porters that only had sandals to walk that difficult terrain. Both thought that the meals along the Inca Trail were delicious. Eric was wishing for the pancakes with the caramel sauce again. It was so neat that you incorporated so much culture and history into the tour and it was especially nice to meet the Peruvian people and see their villages and homes. During their short time in Lima on the final day, they bought my granddaughter (their niece) a lovely handmade adoptable doll named "Chaska." Mery, we cannot thank you and your staff at Kuoda enough for making Leah and Eric's trip to Peru an amazing experience."

M. Russell, USA
February 2010

"We want to thank you very much for this wonderful trip to Peru. It was really fantastic. We travel a lot, but never felt in such careful hands. The people in Kuoda were extremely helpful, knowledgeable and friendly. And what's more, we felt how they sincerely love their native country. We wish you and your company all the best. Warmest regards from the coldest Moscow (- 25 Cº)"

A. and L. Nikolaev, Russia
January 2010

"Happy holidays to you and your wonderful staff! May the new year be fantastically prosperous for you. We had a nice reunion of our travelers in late November. We all agreed that the trip was a wonderful adventure for us, and the planning you put into it made for an itinerary that was perfectly suited to our group's travel desires. It was a busy schedule, and for a group of seniors it was strenuous, but we all agreed we didn't see how it could have been changed without having to omit something or extend the time of our travels. Once again, thanks for your help. It made for an unforgettable trip for us all."

D. Olander, USA
January 2010

"This is an overdue thank you for your support during our trip last month. We appreciated the time that you took to take us to dinner and listen to our reactions to our trip experiences. We also want to thank you for the chocolates and wine which were delivered to our room in Cusco. It was a very thoughtful and considerate (and delicious) gesture, which we enjoyed very much. Thanks again."

J. Robbins, USA
December 2009

"Dear Mery and all our wonderful friends at Kuoda, I hope you did not think that we had forgotten you. On the contrary, we think of you very often and even spoke of our wonderful trip with friends over the holiday season. They were very impressed and were thinking of visiting Peru, but it turns out the wife cannot be at high altitudes above 8,000 feet, so I think they will not be able to come unless they skip some of the really wonderful sites that Peru has to offer. We loved the wonderful pictures you sent, which remind us of our visit to the local village. It is always delightful to see the smiling faces of the children. Every day I enter my front door and see some of the beautiful objects we purchased there. So all of you and Peru are very much with us all year round."

A. and J. Levine, USA
December 2009

"Mil gracias por todo, fue un viaje tan hermoso... la gente, los paisajes, la comida, nuestro extraordinario Edgar que no podría haber sido mas agradable, atento y por cierto con un conocimiento y pasión por la cultura, historia de Perú que quedamos encantados. Un gran abrazo."

C. and M. Igonda, Argentina
December 2009

"I have recently returned from a six-day Peru trip organized by Kuoda and I was extremely satisfied. A guide assisted me in the Lima airport in the transition from the international to domestic flight to Cuzco. In Cuzco, my two travel companions and I were greeted by Mery Calderon, who had planned our itinerary and helped us with every detail, who has a wonderful warm personality and who kept checking with us every night to see if all was well. Our guide Kathy and driver Anthony took great care of us for the next five days, meeting us each morning at our hotels and taking us around to different sites. We have learned so much from Kathy about the Inca history, Peru's beautiful country, culture and people, she took us on a great hike along the valley in Maras and through Machu Picchu, we browsed through open markets in several towns. She gave us great tips on how to spend our free time and went out of her way to help with anything we needed. She has such a sunny personality and many useful contacts at her fingertips. We always felt safe in our driver's Anthony's hands. He was courteous, efficient, and extremely nice and kind, we just loved him. The comfortable new van was roomy and always clean, bottled water always available for all of us. Another Kuoda guide, Percy, who we previously met by chance on a train with another group, helped us kindly with a problem at Huayna Picchu gate when we were on our own time. Kuoda is extremely reliable, they employ the most wonderful people and I would definitely use them again and recommend them to everyone who wants to spend a quality time in Peru and have a great fun at the same time."

D. Pesels, USA
December 2009

"Just a short note to let you know that we all had a great time in Peru. Your planning and itinerary was just right. Edward was a super guide – fluent in English and knowledgeable about all things Peru; Mario was a very safe and reliable driver. Please convey our thanks to Mery for the nice dinner at the Alhambra, and the wine and chocolates in the hotel room was a very nice touch. Kuoda has assembled a very professional and outstanding team. Your showing up at the Libertador was a pleasant surprise, glad that we all got to meet you! Best wishes for a happy and healthy 2010, and hoping that some day we will work together again in planning another fun vacation in South America."

O. Seng, USA
December 2009

"As we told Merry at the airport in Cusco, Kuoda far exceeded our expectations and we had a really wonderful trip of a lifetime! Kuoda does an excellent job and those little extra touches (like the treats in our hotel room and the water bottle holders) made us feel very special. It was all great, but I think what struck me the most was how much all of you did to personalize the trip for us and give us a unique experience we could not have had with anyone else. Ricardo is a delight and I will never forget the ladies of Umasbamba."

D. Foster, USA
November 2009

"It's already 2 weeks after we came back from our trip. We had the most excellent experience and a great encounter con las vistas, la gente y la cultura peruana… El viaje era (was) en muy bueno ambiente y tu eres la mejor. Muchas gracias para todo, ha sido un placer y le deseo todo le mejor."

T. and A. Levit, Israel
November 2009

"It took some adjusting, but am getting back in to the "normal" schedule post Peru ;) It was an AMAZING, INCREDIBLE trip. A huge thanks to Kuoda who played such an integral part in making it such an enjoyable trip. It's really a top-notch agency, so thank you! Please extend my thanks and gratitude to the entire team... everyone did a fabulous job!"

A. Torani, USA
October 2009

"Still can't believe we're home and not in Cusco anymore. I know why you stayed. What a wonderful place. I will have a full letter with lots of photos for you in a week or so but let me just say "WOW"! My husband and I have literally travelled around the world ten times and being in Cusco and the Valley with Edward and Freddie was, perhaps, the best trip we have EVER taken. Will write a better, more coherent letter in a bit, but for now, thank you for the trip of our lives."

G. and D. Moore, USA
October 2009

"We made it back to Kentucky safe and sound a couple of hours ago. I think I can speak for both of us on what an AMAZING time we had! We can certainly put together some highlights and send some pics your way via flickr. It was great meeting you and we cannot thank you enough for your patience with us and working out an ideal package that encompassed the many wonderful facets Peru has to offer."

A. and H. Youngblood, USA
October 2009

"I want to thank you for the very good job you did organizing our tour and all the staff (they were very nice with us, especially in the days when Fausta felt sick). We were back in Italy Saturday afternoon, after the stops I told you in Cartagena (beautiful) and Aruba, which was perfect for the last 4 days of complete relaxing… but the best memories still are from Peru and its beautiful people! We had a funny last day in Lima too, where we enjoyed some fantastic ceviche!"

M. and F. Dal Monte, Italy
October 2009

"We arrived home yesterday morning and are slowly getting back into the swing of things at home. I am so thankful for all your help making our tour such a wonderful experience. We were really impressed with the whole experience, from beginning to end, with Kuoda. Everyone we encountered associated with the company were wonderful people, professional in every way. Our guides were well informed and courteous, the drivers skilled and courteous, the accommodations lovely, the meals along the way were always a special treat. As was the bottle of wine and the chocolates in our room in Cusco! We all had a great time."

A. and D. Welford, USA
October 2009

"We had a wonderful time and an experience of a life time in Peru, with a lot of help from Kuoda! We thank you very much for the attention to detail and thoughtfulness of yourself, Luis our host, and our guides Gabby, Jose, Alvaro, and Victor as well as our drivers Ronato, Washington, and Jorge as well as Ricardo the chef and Raphael from the local village Umasbamba! Thank you again!"

S. and O. Warner, USA
September 2009

"Thank YOU for planning such a memorable and rewarding trip to Peru. Everything was beyond our expectations. We appreciate every detail to the trip that was executed in such a timely manner, and the professionalism of the entire staff. Jole, although we never did get to meet you, we had great interactions with Luis; with Gabby who is a wonderful and informative guide from whom we learned so much history and culture; and with Edgar who is a careful and skillful driver. It is hard to choose what experiences that I most enjoyed since each had its highlights. I think I would have to say I was invigorated by the jungle days. Luis, our guide in Tambopata, is so knowledgeable about the area and he took very good care of us. I liked the adventure. Our cooking class with Ricardo was so much fun. When I tell folks back here about the class and the visit to the weaving community, they are most impressed that experiences like that are included in a trip. Don't be surprised if you get more clients based on our experiences. I did not know too much about Peru before our trip and my researching your beautiful and diverse country. I now look at this adventure as one of the highlights of my many travels. I hope to return some day"

K. Whitaker, USA
September 2009

"Both Filippo and I were quite pleased with the trip and the work you did to make it special. From my point of view the highlights were our guide in Cuzco and Machu Picchu as she made all that she took us to come alive. We found her knowledgeable, enthusiastic and quite personable. We were so happy that we decided to stay at the Monasterio as it too was one of the trip highlights. I would certainly not hesitate to recommend Kuoda and have already told my travel agent about you. Please don't hesitate to contact me if you have any questions."

A. Gottlieb, USA
January 2011

"Wanted to let you know we are back home and to say what a wonderful time we had in Peru. It was so nice to have all our arrangements made and everything taken care of for us. We loved our guides and driver and the lovely accommodations."

Kathy Stanwix, USA
January 2011

"We are all back in our regular orbits and missing Peru greatly. I wouldn't mind moving there! First of all, thank you for putting together a great itinerary, and managing perfectly all the numerous travel arrangements – from flight and hotel bookings, van rentals, excellent guides, and that most wonderful lunch we had at Ida's house! It was nice of you to come and meet with us when we re ached Cusco... made the experience more personal. Kuoda's choice of hotels was perfect, as was the choice of guides like Maria and Jose Louis. Both were very knowledgeable, diligent in managing our travel, and a pleasure to interact with. Fernando at Refugio was terrific as well - he arranged extra hikes to satisfy our need to experience more of the forest. Thanks also to Lewis Guerra who received us in the Lima airport late at night when we came in from Houston. Happy New Year to you and the rest of the Kuoda family!"

Mukerji Family, USA
January 2011

"We all had a wonderful time, even though it was brief. Kuoda (and Edson) did a great job in coordinating our travel, as we hopped from city to city, from plane to car, to bus to boat. Traveling with children in unfamiliar surroundings is never easy and your professional staff made it stress-free for us, allowing us to enjoy the beauty and charm of your country. The guides - especially Luis in Puerto Maldonado and Gabby in Cuzco/Machu Picchu were excellent. They accommodated our needs, were flexible when they needed to be, while still managing to get us through our program. Very professional of them! Thanks again for a wonderful time and keep up the good work!"

S.Rajgopal, USA
January 2011

"We had a fantastic trip. We loved Peru and the service of Kuoda Travel. As I found your company from positive reviews, I would now like to add mine as well.."

Jessica Wilson, USA
PeruCustomized Travel, December2010

"Regarding Kuoda and your services, I have only one complaint. You guys are so unbelievably fantastic that everyone else pales in comparison! We felt totally spoiled by Kuoda. Edward was the most astonishingly great guide; Miguel was warm and friendly always; Edson was always there orchestrating - it was such an outstanding experience that really has been unmatched by anyone else. The trip was truly fantastic. I know I can speak for us both to say it ended up being a trip of a lifetime. I am now a huge iguana fan! I think I have at least 200 photos of the little guys! I really do feel Kuoda is a very special company that is devoted to customer service and delivers. I have had enough experiences (such as being abandoned in Morocco) with travel companies that I do know you really are exceptional. I am so glad I came upon your site and we both thank you from the bottom of our hearts. Thank you again, Jerusha. You did a fantastic job of planning the perfect vacation. I have already given your name to three people who are thinking of going to Peru."

P. Worock, Canada
November 2010

"I have had a very busy week since my return from Peru. I still can't believe that I was actually there! I told you that I cried when I finally saw Machu Picchu. It was a fantastic journey filled with surprises. Kuoda was above and beyond all my expectations. We could not have asked for anything more. The hotels that we stayed at were wonderful. Our favorite was San Blas in Cusco. We also loved El Albergue in Ollantaytambo. I think we had the very best room. The view was wonderful. Everyone was so friendly and helpful. And then there was Ernesto. What a gem. We could not have had a better guide. He was so passionate about his heritage. He treated us like we were family. What a very intelligent man. Louis, our driver, was so cute. Even though he could not understand us, we made sure he was part of all the laughs we had. And we certainly laughed a lot. I hope that Ernesto had as good a time as we did. Cesar, our driver in Lima, was also wonderful. We were not with him as much, but he is a very knowledgeable man. We enjoyed him. Oh Jerusha, thank you so much for being patient with all my questions and concerns. I had no need to worry. I will return to Peru and see all the sights that we did not have time to explore on this trip. Thank you again for all you did to make this journey so memorable."

M. DiMauro, USA
November 2010

"We had simply the best time. Thanks for helping us plan a completely perfect honeymoon. Hard to note highlights since every single part was new and interesting, not to mention fun and luxurious. Perhaps if we had to choose, highlights would be cooking with the chef in the Sacred Valley, Machu Picchu of course (we in particular loved our hotel) and Cusco was ridiculously beautiful. Actually every single accommodation we had was perfect."

J. and J. Thom, Canada
November 2010

"We loved Peru!! The trip you planned for us was perfect! Kati, our guide, from Cusco was the best. We couldn't have gotten any better. We had no problems that I saw the whole time and when we wanted to change a few things, it was no problem. We can't thank you enough. We are telling everyone how great Peru is and hope someone else decides to go. If they do I'll send them your way. Thanks again."

J. Cozze, USA
November 2010

"I thoroughly enjoyed my trip to Peru thanks to Kuoda's excellent service! Kathy and Alicia were very knowledgeable and I left knowing that I learned a lot about Peru. The drivers were also excellent as well as other staff that checked on my happiness almost daily. All the hotels were wonderful and the food was fantastic. Thanks for a great experience!"

R. Stowe, USA
November 2010

"What a trip - it was wonderful! Thank you, thank you all!! I think we were most impressed by Peru's diversity, geographic as well as cultural! Since we had previously spent some time in Peru's Amazon, we were intrigued by the dramatic differences on the coast and in the highlands. There is something unique to see every few miles! We could easily spend more time in the beautiful cities of Cusco and Arequipa; Machu Picchu and Lake Titicaca are fascinating; and meeting the ladies and children in the highland village was certainly a memorable stop for us. Peruvian people are some of the warmest we've met in the world. And of course, the food - we loved it, even the cuy!! The local guides were experts, which, for us, made our Peru tour one of the best experiences in all our travels. You managed everything! When we actually had to start paying attention to the plane tickets home, I felt like we were coming out of a dream! Jerusha, from the moment we first talked, I felt comfortable that we were in good hands. You perfectly tailored the itinerary to our interests, physical abilities and timeframe. And during the entire two weeks of the trip, the guides and Edson regularly asked about our satisfaction with the tour, showing a sincere interest in our personal level of comfort and expectation. Your team finds the best guides and very safety conscious drivers! Each guide reviewed with us the following day's itinerary, and without fail, we were met on time. And it seemed to us (we asked!) that there is a mutual respect between the guides and people at Kuoda, with everyone committed to providing us, the clients, with the best possible experience. Kudos to you, Mery, and your excellent team at Kuoda!"

L. and L. Lutchansky, USA
October 2010

"I am not really sure where to begin and how to put into words my feelings about our recent trip to Peru. Without doubt one of our best trips ever and Kuoda had a lot to do with it. The beauty of the country and warmth of the Peruvian people was reflected in the people who work at Kuoda. From the moment we arrived and were met at the airport, we knew we were in good hands. Kuoda made us feel comfortable and that we were taken care of by friends and family. A truly worry-free experience with attention to detail. Always prompt pick-ups and itineraries that were customized on a daily basis to enhance our experience. A special thanks to Sheila who spoke with enthusiasm and great knowledge about her homeland. She became like a close relative who shared her country with us. Miguel, Senior Siesta, who made us feel safe on those crazy back roads. Thank you. To Edson who worked hard behind the scenes to make sure everything worked like clock-work, even making phone calls to us along the way to make sure we were doing OK. We appreciate all he did. To Mery who met us at the airport at the end of our holidays. She is beautiful inside and out. Thanks for almost making us cry when we left. Peru will have a special place in our heart and so will all our new friends and family at Kuoda. The small local tour company that could and did come through for us."

Dr. Ch. Migas, Canada
October 2010

"First of all we want to thank you SOOO much for the amazing dinner at Cicciolina...it was beyond our expectations. I tried cuy for the first time...had it as an appetizer in a confit served over a yellow mash of potatoes. DELICIOUS!!. We all agreed the rest of the dinner was equally wonderful. Next, we want to thank you for upgrading our rooms here in Puno. They are beautiful and HUGE and the service is lovely. What a treat!! Our guide here, Jose, is a doll and we have enjoyed him so much. It's really a plus that you hire guides that have grown up in the area where they are guiding...it makes the trip seem even more personal. Mery, you are running a first-rate organization. We loved the lunch experience today at the little family run restaurant on Taquile. There was a larger group there as well, but Jose asked them to seat us in the family's courtyard area...so it was our own little private dining room on the shores of the magnificent lake, with the children playing at our feet. It was another "It doesn't get any better than this" moment...of which we have had more than we can count on this trip."

L. Frey and Party, USA

October 2010

"Both Filippo and I were quite pleased with the trip and the work you did to make it special. From my point of view the highlights were our guide in Cuzco and Machu Picchu as she made all that she took us to come alive. We found her knowledgeable, enthusiastic and quite personable. We were so happy that we decided to stay at the Monasterio as it too was one of the trip highlights. I would certainly not hesitate to recommend Kuoda and have already told my travel agent about you. Please don't hesitate to contact me if you have any questions."

A. Gottlieb, USA
January 2011

"Wanted to let you know we are back home and to say what a wonderful time we had in Peru. It was so nice to have all our arrangements made and everything taken care of for us. We loved our guides and driver and the lovely accommodations."

Kathy Stanwix, USA
January 2011

"We are all back in our regular orbits and missing Peru greatly. I wouldn't mind moving there! First of all, thank you for putting together a great itinerary, and managing perfectly all the numerous travel arrangements – from flight and hotel bookings, van rentals, excellent guides, and that most wonderful lunch we had at Ida's house! It was nice of you to come and meet with us when we re ached Cusco... made the experience more personal. Kuoda's choice of hotels was perfect, as was the choice of guides like Maria and Jose Louis. Both were very knowledgeable, diligent in managing our travel, and a pleasure to interact with. Fernando at Refugio was terrific as well - he arranged extra hikes to satisfy our need to experience more of the forest. Thanks also to Lewis Guerra who received us in the Lima airport late at night when we came in from Houston. Happy New Year to you and the rest of the Kuoda family!"

Mukerji Family, USA
January 2011

"We all had a wonderful time, even though it was brief. Kuoda (and Edson) did a great job in coordinating our travel, as we hopped from city to city, from plane to car, to bus to boat. Traveling with children in unfamiliar surroundings is never easy and your professional staff made it stress-free for us, allowing us to enjoy the beauty and charm of your country. The guides - especially Luis in Puerto Maldonado and Gabby in Cuzco/Machu Picchu were excellent. They accommodated our needs, were flexible when they needed to be, while still managing to get us through our program. Very professional of them! Thanks again for a wonderful time and keep up the good work!"

S.Rajgopal, USA
January 2011

"We had a fantastic trip. We loved Peru and the service of Kuoda Travel. As I found your company from positive reviews, I would now like to add mine as well.."

Jessica Wilson, USA
December2010

"The trip (Inka Trail) was great, challenging, the food was good (so good that I ate too much), porters were the best, and the guide was very nice. Thank you for everything!"

P. Worock, Canada
November 2010

"Just wanted to say that we had a wonderful trip and a very good experience during our travel. I want to commend all of your tour guides. They were very professional and friendly and saw to all our needs. When we decide to travel again we would certainly contact your office."

M. DiMauro, USA
November 2010

"Kuoda Tours' organization was excellent and very professional. The employers were always friendly and the guides were knowledgeable, and speak English very well. Better than I! I also work in tourism in Germany and I was happy to find this quality of service in Peru!"

T. Maske, Germany
April 2006

"Hi Michel and Mery. I just want to send you a little greeting here from Chile. I am doing very well now!!! We just want to thank the two of you for everything. I think you did a wonderful job!! And the two of you are just great persons.... we were very satisfied!! I will miss the two of you! Take good care and I hope I will hear something from you! You were just great!!!"

D. Rasmussen, Denmark
June 2006

"We are delighted with the trip and will certainly tell others who ask about your company and the individualized assistance Kuoda offered in crafting the itinerary to our time constraints and interests. I am grateful for the special things we enjoyed because of each of the guides, drivers, and Kuoda consultants each one of you added something special to our enjoyment of Peru. I wanted to let you know that we're very pleased about our recent trip to Peru. In any case, all went very smoothly with our trip ....I was particularly impressed by Mery's willingness to come out and get us from Ollantaytambo late one night other than waiting for us to arrive in Cusco. That saved my sleepyhead kids and us tired parents an hour of transit so that we could more easily meet our early commitment in the morning for the train...In any case, you can share with these guides, drivers, and other assistants that we had a more restful and enjoyable trip because of their skill and attention than we ever could've had if we'd been responsible for our own transportation and information and arrangement of everything! I can't imagine traveling internationally without huge amounts of help within the destination country. Thank you for being there and using your expertise, associates' skills, and flexibility to navigate the Webb family through our pleasing itinerary. We'll never forget it."

Webb Family, USA
December 2006

"We are delighted with the trip and will certainly tell others who ask about your company and the individualized assistance Kuoda offered in crafting the itinerary to our time constraints and interests. I am grateful for the special things we enjoyed because of each of the guides, drivers, and Kuoda consultants each one of you added something special to our enjoyment of Peru. I wanted to let you know that we're very pleased about our recent trip to Peru. In any case, all went very smoothly with our trip ....I was particularly impressed by Mery's willingness to come out and get us from Ollantaytambo late one night other than waiting for us to arrive in Cusco. That saved my sleepyhead kids and us tired parents an hour of transit so that we could more easily meet our early commitment in the morning for the train...In any case, you can share with these guides, drivers, and other assistants that we had a more restful and enjoyable trip because of their skill and attention than we ever could've had if we'd been responsible for our own transportation and information and arrangement of everything! I can't imagine traveling internationally without huge amounts of help within the destination country. Thank you for being there and using your expertise, associates' skills, and flexibility to navigate the Webb family through our pleasing itinerary. We'll never forget it."

Webb Family, USA
December 2006

"Just wanted to take a moment to thank Kuoda for your personal attention...it's so rare these days to experience the "human touch" with any travel company. I intend recommend you to all my friends!!"

L. Simms, USA
March 2005

"Kuoda works only with groups that have very high standards for tour quality and integrity for both customers and employees. Kuoda is a very unique company, and I'm pleased to have the chance to rave about their very positive qualities. My partner and I both felt that they went above and beyond our expectations. I shared my travel pictures with them to thank them for their hospitality and warmth (and gave them permission to use some of the photos on their website)."

C. Heslop, Canada
December 2005