Testimonials

You were great to work with and you put together an excellent itinerary in very short order that fit our requirements extremely well.  It didn't end there as it sometimes can in other organizations when one is turned over from sales groups to operations groups.  Everyone that we met within the Kuoda organization were absolutely top drawer and worked hard to make our experience as memorable and pleasurable as possible.
I can summarize by saying that we were really pleased not only with the sights that we saw but with the exposure that we provided with in terms of normal Peruvian life in the areas that we toured.
The quality of everything – service, accommodation, meals, arrangements etc. was fantastic.  In our brief meeting with Mery, her charm and personality filled the room.  A company takes on the personality of the person at the top, and it is never more obvious than in Kuoda's case and that is a very good thing.  Exceptional people end up with exceptional people.

G. Little, Canada
Peru Luxury Travel, November 2011

Hi Tom and Kuoda Travel Friends;
We cannot thank the Kuoda staff enough for all that was done to make our vacation a huge success.  Meeting Mary in person at the end, added a special touch.  It confirmed the fact that Kuoda Travel offers attentive, caring service.

We were pleased with the service and the prompt response to our questions and needs.  The hotels met our expectations, the sites were beautiful and interesting and the climax of our trip:   Machu Picchu, was magnificent.
We'll be sure to tell everyone who's interested in visiting Peru,  to contact Kuoda travel.  We hope to use your service again.  Once again; "Thank you".  We'll keep in touch and hope that you will do the same.
Sincerely,

R. and Y. Spivey ,USA
Peru Luxury Travel, November 2011

We had a really great time – thanks in large measure to Kuoda Travel. The schedule you put together was perfect. The train journey to Aguas Calientes is a great way to travel in. We had enough time in Machu Picchu (an incredible place and setting) to have a really good exploration of the site as well as to do all the main walks out of there – to the Sun Gate, the Inca Bridge and up the small mountain behind. Having lunch up there meant we could enjoy the afternoons when the crowds were much smaller. You found us three really good hotels. The days spent in the Sacred Valley made a great start to the holiday. As well as visiting various Inca sites, we also very much enjoyed the side trips – to the weaving village, the lunch with the artist and his wife, the visit to the alpaca/llama farm. As well as seeing the tourist sites, we felt that (thanks to your programme) we also got a taste of the real Peru. Cusco was very impressive also – with the Inca and colonial history side by side.
I am recommending Kuoda Travel to colleagues in Rio and you can expect some follow-up from here next year. Greta and I hope that at some stage we can also return to Peru. We were really taken by the country, the people (so friendly) and by the efficient way they have organized their tourism.
Best regards,
Steve

S. Ollerearnshaw ,USA
Peru Luxury Travel, November 2011

Thank you for organizing a wonderful tour for Tim and me.  We loved our trip and will enjoy the memories for many years to come.  Pilar was an excellent guide.  She was well prepared, patiently answered all of our questions and was enjoyable to spend time with. We will happily recommend Kuoda Travel.  Again, many thanks!!

N. Sawyer, USA
Peru Luxury Travel, November 2011

Hola Mery,

We want to thank you and the entire Kuoda Team for our Peru experience. We will never forget it! Our thoughts are still swimming in memories of the culture, history, cuisine, flora and fauna, and most of all people. Your staff and contractors made us feel welcome and looked after us; we know we were in good hands. 
We enjoyed meeting you especially after hearing so many wonderful things about you online and from your staff.
 Best Regards,

R. Herdez, USA
Personalized Peruvian Travel, October 2011

We had the most amazing trip!!!  We told Mary that it was because of you that we went with Kuoda.  You did a fabulous job for us.  We think our trip was perfect.  We have all been busy recommending Kuoda.  I plan to get on trip advisor soon to let the world know what a great job you all did.

1. The guides were wonderful!  What I liked the most about both Edward and Manuel was their local connections and knowledge.  They seemed to have an in depth understanding of the history as well as the culture.  They also seemed to have great relationships with the locals we met along the way.  This gave us a way to meet these people and get a closer look at their real lives and culture.  Also, both guides seemed to know how to pace things for us---not too much but certainly as much as we were willing to do and see.
 2. The itinerary was perfect!!!  We appreciated the altitude adjustments, the amount of time in each location and everywhere we went.  I would recommend that exact itinerary to others with similar interests.  It was just the right amount of time in each locale and we really did get to see a lot of places!
3. The opportunities to go to the village and to German and Aida's house were unforgettable!  I felt so fortunate to have the chance to be with these wonderful people in their home environments.  Those two experiences were among the highlights of the trip for me!!!!
4. The food was delicious!  I did not expect to eat quite so well. 
5. The personal attention from Kuoda at the airports was really nice.  It took all the stress and worry out in areas where we could have had problems.  Thanks to all those who helped us at the airports.
6. The drivers were all very good and personable.
So, to sum it up, I was more satisfied than I had expected.  I have returned home with such a love for Peru and her people!  I am telling everyone they need to go visit---and to use Kuoda to make the trip more pleasant.
 Again, it all started with you.  You steered us in the right direction when we were trying to determine our best itinerary.  You never made us feel that we were a burden.  You were extremely prompt in responding to each and every email we sent.  You did an outstanding job.  Thank you!!!!
Please feel free to give my name as a reference.
 Thanks for your patience.

A. Granbery, USA
Personalized Peruvian Travel, October 2011

It was a pleasure to meet Mery yesterday on our drive to the airport.  I hope she passed on our praise of the company - you exceeded our expectations in every way. We have been many places and I would have to say this ranks right up there with our trip to India. The sights were truly spectacular and everything worked according to schedule. Jerusha planned a perfect trip for us and your follow-up helped make it so successful. Pilar and Roberto were wonderful to be with.  We especially enjoyed the visit to the alpaca farm, which I did not realize we were doing as well as lunch in our host's home. Our hike on Wed, am  was awesome!

Thank you again. I will certainly recommend Kuoda to anyone interested in a Peru trip.
Warm regards ,
Rhonda

R. Biller, USA
Personalized Peruvian Travel, October 2011

Well, I'm back in Israel now with wonderful memories of my trip to Peru.
I am so happy that Tali recommended your agency to me. From the very beginning (emails with tom some months back) everything was done very efficiently and professionally, with patience and courtesy. You can be sure that I will recommend you highly to my friends and will certainly contact you again for any trips I may take to the areas you cover.

J. Abu-Tomah, USA
Personalized Peruvian Travel, October 2011

Thank you so much for planning out such a wonderful itinerary for us. The places, schedule, guides made our trip very memorable and it was lovely to meet you in Cusco.
Thank you for all your help with the many many interactions we requested of you Warm regards,

A. and J Jain, India
Personalized Peruvian Travel, October 2011

Thank you so much for your email. 
 We LOVED Peru!  The trip  was PERFECT and couldn't have been better.  We loved the people we met and everything we saw.  The highlights were definitely Machu Picchu (which we were astoundingly connected to) and Lake Titicaca. We still can't get over it.
We've been telling everyone here how wonderful your company is.
 Hope to be back!

A. Bruno, USA
Personalized Peruvian Travel, October 2011

I wanted to join Ann in thanking you for organizing a wonderful trip for us.  This is one 30th wedding anniversary that we will remember!!
We both loved Peru and its people, who showed a lot of warmth and friendliness towards us.
Best regards,
Philippe

P. Bruno, USA
Personalized Peruvian Travel, October 2011

Hi Tom, (and Edson, and of course Mery)
We've been asked so many times how the trip was, and we've given variations of 'fabulous', and huge compliments to Kuoda. Peru has an unbelievable variety in climate and terrain - a desert as stunning as the Sahara, mysterious jungle, mountains higher than the sky, architecture ancient, colonial and modern, even islands that float...and you took us to see it all, at our pace, without a hitch. Kuoda made it look so easy, and feel so comfortable...that only happens with tremendous organization, attention to details details details, and the right people in the right jobs.
The guides were unbelievably knowledgeable and fun, moving at our pace, modifying the schedule if it was better to do. They all spoiled us, and we loved it. The drivers, every one, were excellent.
Our rainforest stay at the Inkaterra Amazonica Lodge was perfection - the setting, our cabin, the main lodge, the food. 4 days in a little bit of heaven.
Then we left the rain forest for the Sacred Valley - and Sol y Luna, where they upgraded us to their best units! Stunning. On my birthday yet!
There was of course Pilar- we felt so fortunate to be with her. Such a terrific guide, our cusquenan friend. So glad she was with us for Machu Picchu. Pilar does all the little things that move her steps above the rest - not only does she know the history, architecture and the people, but she made sure we got to the best viewing spots...all while making sure we were not causing interruption or intrusion on any other group.
Cusco - what fun to have parades happenning! Lots to explore and enjoy.
One very definite high point not mentioned yet...meeting you Tom (and having you come a second time to see us off from Cusco!), and Edson, made us feel very special, welcomed and important.
Kuoda's level of personal attention or attention to detail is AAA+.
hugs to all of you,
Janis & David

J. and D. Topp, Canada
Personalized Peruvian Travel, September 2011

Overall, our trip was wonderful.  Everything went perfectly.  It turned out that there was never a need for worry.  We will definitely remember Kuoda for future travels to South America. 
As for highlights of our trip, it's rather difficult to single things out.  The itinerary suited us perfectly, and each day was wonderful. There was really nothing we were unhappy about.

D. Thorkildsen, USA
Personalized Peruvian Travel, September 2011

“ We had a really wonderful time in Peru.  We all agreed that it was a perfect vacation, couldn't have been better.  Our guides were all fantastic.  The drivers, as well.  All the points on our itinerary were wonderful.  There was so much to see in Peru.  . The people of Peru, the history, the culture, all so interesting.
What a wonderful trip!  Thanks so much for all of your help.  We will be planning a trip to see the Galapagos for 2013. So, we will be in touch.  
Warm wishes,
Alyse

A. Plotkin, USA
Personalized Peruvian Travel, September 2011

Many apologies for not getting back to you, I've been traveling.
In fact, I've been meaning to write and say a big big thank you to the entire team at Kuoda. My mother and her friends had a wonderful time and were all praise for your arrangements, efficiency and friendliness. My father is planning a trip next year and I'm sure we'll be in touch!
Once again, many thanks

B. Srinivasan ,India
Personalized Peruvian Travel, September 2011

Thank-you and the rest of the team for working with my wife and I to organize what was truly a collection of experiences neither of us will ever forget.
From our arrival in Lima through to our departure 16 days later, our itinerary was executed flawlessly by your team.  Smiling faces greeted us with a Kuoda sign at every airport.  The transportation was always first class with great drivers that arrived each day in vehicles that sparkled. The guides: knowledgeable, helpful, energetic and a pleasure to spend our days with.  
My wife's favorite memories are of the time we spent in the Tambopata jungle.  The river otters in Lake Sandoval, an anaconda snake on the shore of Gamitana Creek, and sharing delicious pisco sours with new found friends every evening are just a few.
I will never forget hiking to Machu Picchu after climbing off the train at KM 104.  The views of WinayWayna becoming larger as the Urubamba river below became smaller.  The satisfaction of reaching the Sungate; looking back from where I had hiked; looking ahead to the first glimpse of the city. 
There are many other memories, the catacombs in Lima, shopping in Cusco, Sunday market in Pisac, Maras salt mines, exploring the Moray and Ollantaytambo archaeological sites, and the floating Uros islands of Lake Titicaca to name just a few. 
My wife and I have had the privilege and opportunity to travel all over the world. I have booked trips with tour companies and I have planned trips on my own.  I am glad we decided to go with Kuoda.  It was worth every penny. 
Thanks again,

S. and Y. Battistolo, USA
Personalized Peruvian Travel, September 2011

"We love Peru and Kuoda"
I really do not know how to thank Mery and you for making our visit such a incredible and memorable one.  As you know my friends depended on me alone to select a tour company and I am so glad to choose Kuoda.  You all made a great difference for our trip.
After visiting Rio and Buenos Aires, all of us agreed that Peru is tops.  We love your country, the friendly people and of course the great food.  We had a grand time and enjoyed the great hotels you chose for us.  The itinerary you planned for us was very enjoyable and Kuoda exceeded our expectation by miles.
Also our special thanks to Jimmy the guide for such an outstanding job.  We have travelled the world and Kuoda is the best company we have ever experienced.
You have a great country and we were very surprised how nice Peru is.  Certainly there are many highlights like Machu Picchu and beautiful Cusco but the most outstanding one was our visit to the Peruvian Orphanage.  Most of us were in tears to see how beautiful and joyful the kids were in spite of their background.  Some of us wanted to take the kids home.  We love the hugs and the time we had there.  We shared our box lunch with them and we cleared the mini bar in all hotels and Sanctuary Hotel in Machu Picchu of all the snacks and chocs (they were included in the room rate) for them.  Jimmy the guide was nearly in tears as our Mr Tan made a touching speech and presented our donation to them.  It was a real treat for us to know the other side of Peru other than just only the tourist sites.  We spend about 3 hours there and cancelled the other 2 tours.  It was worth it.
I am already telling my Malaysian friends how great Peru and Kuoda is.  You can be sure you will get more business from this corner of the world.
Meantime you are authorized to use this e mail as a testimonial and give my email address to anybody who wants to contact me about your company. 
My best warm regards.
Sincerely

R. Teo, Malaysia
Peru Luxury Travel, September 2011

Tom,
I want to say “THANKS” too!!!!!!!  It was definitely a trip of a life time.  Javier and Carlos was absolutely GREAT!!!!!!!  I can say they were more like friends by the end of the trip.
 We have traveled fairly extensively in the U.S., Europe, the Mediterranean and Caribbean, but our trip to Peru has definitely been a highlight, largely due to the Kuoda team.  I have to admit I'm a detailed travel planner and usually do not enlist help.  We, quite frankly, cannot imagine having made this trip without Kuoda and I believe it has spoiled us for our future travel plans!
 Your patience in input, answering questions, and finalizing details for planning our trip was terrific, Tom, and thanks much for that.  We felt safe and secure our entire trip, knowing everything was taken care of, doublechecked, and would work perfectly.  It was so nice not to have to worry about the details of transportation, tickets, waiting in lines, touring with crowds, boarding, hotel check-ins, etc.  because it was ALL taken care of for us!  What a delightful way to be able to concentrate on what the trip is all about...not the logistics!

And, yes, we definitely want to come back to visit Peru again with Kuoda.  We have recommended you with no reservations to friends of ours and will continue to do so.  We can't thank you enough for all the attention we were given and how special Kuoda made our trip...your people and services are absolutely terrific and greatly appreciated by us. 
Thanks again, and we look forward to working with Kuoda again soon.  Would you please pass our appreciation on...and our best wishes until we can enjoy our travels together again?
 Warmest regards,
 Betsy and Mark 

B. and M. Paulley, USA
Personalized Peruvian Travel, September 2011

Victor and I wanted you to know how much we liked using Kuoda for our travel experience.  As we talked about in our Cusco hotel prior to going to the Rain Forest, we loved our guides and drivers and thought they did a wonderful job of giving us interesting information.  All were very personable.  The Rain Forest guide who was Rudolfo was very good as well. 

T. Quintero, USA
Personalized Peruvian Travel, September 2011

I wanted to write and tell you that we had a fantastic time. Your organization of our itinerary was perfect.
All the guides from our pick up in Lima with Christian to meeting Edson in Cusco and then Hector for our trip around the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu were outstanding.

The scenery in the Sacred Valley and especially Machu Picchu exceeded our expectations- it was amazing- and when we tell people about our trip we do say that it needs to be seen to be believed. The experiences we had and the people we met were wonderful and we have both certainly taken away fond memories of our time in Peru. It is especially great to think back on our holiday when we are back at work!
 
So thank you again Tom- we will recommend Kuoda and particularly yourself to anyone who is thinking of going to Peru. If we decide to return and explore other parts of Peru or Ecuador/ Galapagos Islands we will certainly contact Kuoda. 
Muchas gracias

S. and S. Halpenny , USA
Personalized Peruvian Travel, August 2011

 My wife and I would like to express our sincere thank you for the hospitality and care accorded us by the management and staff of Kuoda Travel. Special thanks to Mery for going out of her way to meet us and to send us off. We are lucky to have Jimmy as our tour guide. He is like a walking history book imparting all his knowledge on the history and culture of the Incas and the Peruvians to us.

We really enjoyed our stay in Peru. You have so many fine hotels and well developed facilities for tourists to visit those places of interest. Of course to the ladies, it is a shopper's paradise. It was an eye opener for us. Peru is so developed and so rich in history and culture. We have got a lot to learn from you.
Thank you again

S. C S, Singapore
Personalized Peruvian Travel, August 2011

I am so sorry it has taken me so long to write to say THANK YOU for taking care of Brian this summer.  He had such an amazing experience and you are a huge part of the reason why.  You went so far beyond my expecations and I am so very grateful.  Brian was shocked and amazed at how kind and generous you were to him.  He loves you and your family too.   We have been away since he got back and during our entire trip, he continued to tell me stories about his experiences in Peru.  He loves it there and he was very moved by the work you are doing at your center with the children.  You should be so proud of your efforts!

I can never thank you enough for everything.  I hope one day I can do a similar favor for you.  In the meantime, I would like to make a donation to your children's center.  Please let me know how I can do this. 

A million thanks again.
Lots of love,
Holly

H. Fogler,USA
Personalized Peruvian Travel, August 2011

Thank you so much for arranging a wonderful vacation.  It was one of the best vacations I have taken and I have been to over 30 countries.  Peru is a beautiful country.  The people were kind and interesting, our tour guides were knowledgeable and also lots of fun and full of energy.  I was also very impressed with the hotels.   Some of them were so nice I didn't want to leave.   Also, the food is just fantastic, I especially enjoyed the trout but I didn't have the nerve to try guinea pig.  Next time I am in Peru I will eat the guinea pig.  We also enjoyed very much the train ride to Manchu Picchu.  The fashion show and entertainment was a pleasant surprise. 
Please extend my thanks to the entire Kuoda team for a fantastic vacation.
 I will definitely return to Peru and I am telling everyone I know about the fantastic vacation.
Take care

J.Sabourin, USA
Peru Luxury Travel, August 2011

Everything was wonderful!  We had the BEST time in Peru.  Everything went perfectly.  The weather was spectacular, so thanks for arranging that too!!!  I am sooooo glad that I had the extra time in Machu Picchu, it was magical and I loved it there.  The highlight of the trip was definitely Huayna Picchu.  That hike was so much fun!  I read one reviewer that said, skip Huayna Picchu, are they nuts???!!!  I'm sure it isn't for everyone, but that was a definite must see for me.  
There really isn't anything that we didn't like.  Each thing was different and I felt like we had a good variety of things that we did.
All the best!

H. Jarvis, USA
Personalized Peru Travel, August 2011

We just arrived back home from our trip to Peru this morning, and I wanted to let follow up and let you know that we had an amazing trip. Everything went smoothly, and we loved everything about the trip, particularly the Amazon and Machu Picchu,  Thank you so much for putting together our itinerary!

We will definitely be recommending Kuoda to any of our friends that are interested in traveling to Peru!

D. Brace, USA
Personalized Peru Travel, August 2011

We would be happy to share about our overall experience with Peru and with Kuoda Travel!
First, we would like to say the guides that Kuoda provided us were absolutely wonderful!  Because of them, we can honestly say that our time in Peru was nothing short of spectacular.  Everything was organized, efficient, and professional.  We always felt like we were in good hands.  Everyone appeared knowledgeable and passionate about the country.
I already expressed this to Mery when she greeted us in Cusco, but I wanted to give special attention to our guide Eduardo.  I was impressed with his medical training regarding high altitudes and he made us feel at ease when we were not feeling 100%. His warm and enthusiastic personality made that portion of the trip a highlight for us. He should be commended because for us it was like traveling around with an old friend. 
We did want to mention that we were impressed that all guides were always there (at the required time) to greet us and guide us to the next step. We would have been lost in trying to purchase tickets and board the Inka Express bus if it were not for our guide Henry in Puno. 
A special thanks to Edson for calling in and checking on us on a few occasions when he found out that we were pretty sick. It was comforting to know that someone was looking out for us and if we needed additional medical attention, someone would have been there to provide guidance it if needed.  I felt this was an instance in which Kuoda went above and beyond.
The highlight of the trip for us was actually Lake Titicaca and the Floating Islands.  We enjoyed the tour, meeting a family, trying on their traditional clothing, and taking a ride on a reed boat around the lake. Seeing the morning sunrise over the lake was something that we will always remember.  Thank you for also organizing the opportunity to visit the authentic village in the hight plain of chinchero, near Lake Piuray.  It is these types of experiences that travelers get to witness the true authenticity of the place visited, giving us a very real look into the lives of the local people.  We will always remember our time there, participating in a ceremony and dancing with the village women.
In conclusion, we truly enjoyed our trip to Peru.  We have looked forward to visiting this beautiful country for some time, so a special thanks to Kuoda for all their help in making our trip to Peru, finally a reality!
We will definitely recommend your company to others.
Thank you!

A. Lesner, USA
Peru Luxury Travel, August 2011

I want to thank you again for putting our trip together.  The trip will provide great memories for a lifetime.

C. Wang, USA
Peru FamilyTravel, August 2011

We just arrived back home from our trip to Peru this morning, and I wanted follow up and let you know that we had an amazing trip. Everything went smoothly, and we loved everything about the trip, particularly the Amazon and Machu Picchu, Thank you so much for putting together our itinerary!
We will definitely be recommending Kuoda to any of our friends that are interested in traveling to Peru!

D. Brace, USA
Peru Luxury Travel, August 2011

Overall it was a wonderful trip, you did a great job and all the sites we saw were really interesting.  Both guides and drivers were terrific.  Betsy in particular.  She knew her stuff and had plenty of patience.

T.Newell, USA
Peru Luxury Travel, August 2011

We had a nice time in Peru and the trip arrangements were definitely up to our expectations. We will definitely consider Kuoda next time we plan to visit South America.

Best, A. Das, USA
Peru Luxury Travel, August 2011

I found the communications with you to be excellent.  You were quick to respond to comments and made useful suggestions for the itinerary planning.  The detailed Itinerary provided as a guide for our trip was excellent.  We liked the fact that it listed our hotels, flights, and detailed information on what we would see.   I always felt like you were providing the personal attention that we were seeking when selecting Kuoda.   As background, I had pursued quotations and discussions with three other companies before selecting Kuoda.  You answered my questions directly and provided us with the confidence that we were in good hands.
We were impressed that at every stage of our travels from arrival to departure there was a handover between drivers/guides and left us with little doubt about what was going to happen.  This was incredibly valuable as we never felt stressed during our travels.  Having the boarding passes already printed when we arrived at the airports and train stations was terrific.  No standing in line or having to navigate the local processes.  This all went very smoothly. 
We found all of the drivers to be very professional and safe.  We also appreciated how they kept the inside of the tour buses clean.  We did remark that one day we would get out at the end of the day and there was dirt and dust on the floor from our shoes.  The next day it was clean.  We also appreciated having the bottles of water available. 
We want to let you know that Refugio Amazonas was a definite highlight of our trip.  From meeting us in Puerto Maldonado to the trip to the lodge and back to the airport, the transitions were smooth and seamless.  The accommodation at the lodge was better than expected and we loved every minute of it.  Our tour guide ‘Paula’ was excellent and we learned so much from her. 
We really enjoyed the visit to the local community in Chinchero and the opportunity to buy products from the individuals that created them.  This was very enlightening and one of the experiences we find ourselves telling others about now that we have returned.
We have been telling many family and friends about the great experience we had visiting Peru and how wonderful it was to travel with Kuoda tours.  The four of us would overwhelmingly recommend Kuoda to anyone considering travel to Peru.  

G. Denney, USA
Personalized Peruvian Travel, August 2011

Myself and my wife had a fabulous time in Peru recently. The Peruvian people, weather, cuisine, landscape and history are truly amazing and I have let all my friends & family know to add this country to their bucket list of places to visit in a lifetime. It is not uncommon for local people to not realize the beauty of the place they live in and it often takes an outsider to bring this point home. Right from the first call I made to you, to the last conversation I had with you on the way back to Lima, you and your staff (Victoria, Edson, Jernan -sp? ) have been simply extraordinary. You truly delivered a 'personalized' tour for us and I want to thank you for the same. Please convey a special thanks to Edward Castro. He is an amazing tour guide and handled the job in a very professional manner with the right amount of personal touch.
Good luck to you and hope our paths cross again.
Regards,

S. Dongre, USA
Peru Luxury Travel, July 2011

We really fell in love with Peru! It is an amazing country! We had a very big expectations but all of them were satisfied!!!!
We loved our guide Juan Carlos in Cusco: he was so enthusiastic and well prepared! Please, tell him we will always remember him!!
We also loved the days in Manu, in the very basic tented camp but the feeling to be really in the middle of nowhere! And we also spotted a leopard: what a big luck!!!
So this holiday will always stay in our heart and who knows maybe we'll be back one day!
Have a good day.

F. Putelli, Italy
Peru Luxury Travel, July 2011

Peru was awesome! Yes indeed we are planning on returning - there is so much more to see, and the service from Kouda and your guides, drivers and hoteliers  was outstanding.
It's hard to say what the highlight of the trip was as everywhere we went was a unique experience.  We thoroughly enjoyed the beach - it was very relaxing and just what we needed before the trail.
Cusco was great, I think next time we will spend a few more days here.  The Quinua Hotel I think has to be our favourite - a fabulous apartment and the staff was very accommodating and friendly.... we didn't want to leave.
Our guide on the Machu Picchu Trail - Santiago - was fantastic. 
 The Amazon Reserve was also fantastic.  We enjoyed the night tour and the lake trip.  The rooms were very relaxing and clean.
It was very nice to meet Mery, it was a nice way to end a great honeymoon.

Cheers R. and E. Hedley, USA
Peru Luxury Travel, July 2011

I wanted to thank all of you over at Kuoda for making our trip to Peru so amazing! It was also really cool to meet you and the entire team. I've already started recommending you guys to people I know :) If you ever need a reference, I'm sure all of us would be willing to put in a good word.

M. Yen, USA
Peru Luxury Travel, July 2011

Now that we are all back home and our Peru-Bolivia memories are still fresh, it is the right time to say thank you for a wonderful experience.
 We all really appreciate your efforts in making sure that all the required trip logistics (i.e. guides, hotels, drivers etc.) operated perfectly.
We really enjoyed the itinerary and all the trip adventures.  It was a real excitement to meet you both at your home town - Cusco.
Thanks again from your new friends in Israel - the "Yossi Kahana Group" : Rachel, Aida, Zvi, Rivka & Jacob, Nily & Igal, Luna & Yossi.

Y. Kahana, Israel
Peru and Bolivia PersonalizedTravel, June 2011

La Paz is a city full of life.  Even there were no festivals people were playing instruments, singing songs lighting fireworks and celebrating.  We were told this is common on Friday and Saturday nights.  Thousands of people lined the streets and for us that is so incredibly unique.  This is so very different from home.  We do not have the same sense of celebration or joy in our country.   Bolivia, and I expect South American countries share that in common.  
Each city we visited was the same.  In fact, when we were in Potosi a band in the hotel or nearby played until 4:30 a.m.  Just pure celebration.  Now that's what we call living! 

We found the Bolivians to be very polite, hardworking people with much pride.  From the moment we landed on Bolivian soil we felt at home.  We also found the people to be very honest and genuine which was most refreshing.

Service throughout was exemplary.

S. & R. McKelvie, Canada
Custom-made Bolivia Travel, June 2011

Truly a great, memorable vacation. Your service was better than expected.
Thanks again,

K. Bickell, USA
Peru Luxury Travel, June 2011

First off I would like to THANK YOU for the wonderful service you provided. You not only met but exceeded my expectations. Our trip to Peru was wonderful from the time we arrived in Lima to the time we departed Lima.
The Mira Flores Hotel was Fantastic as were the other hotels. Everyone was very very friendly and I would not only recommend Peru to my friends but would recommend they call Kuoda Travel if they ever do go.
I want to personally thank you again for all your help.
Take care,

L. Arnold, USA
Peru Luxury Travel, June 2011

Thanks for a great itinerary; we had a wonderful time.

L. Best, USA
Peru Family Travel, June 2011

We had a very good time in Cusco, the Sacred Valley, Machu Pichu, and Lima. . I want to begin by telling you that the logistics were flawless: always a person to meet us, a car to take us, a guide to help us, and correct reservations for hotel rooms, museum tickets, train tickets, plane tickets.  

Thank you for all your help. Best Regards,

D. Stevens, USA
Peru Luxury Travel, June 2011

We got back from our holiday a few weeks ago and wanted to send an email to thank everyone at Kuoda for making our holiday so memorable. We had a wonderful time and really felt that everyone at Kuoda went out of their way to make it that way. From the initial planning and the selection of locations and hotels, to the guides, drivers and people at Kuoda headquarters: everything was superb.  Many thanks

C. and R. Langston, UK
Peru Anniversary Travel, June 2011

We are just settling in after the wonderful excitement of our trip to Peru.  It was really tough to return home, we wanted to stay longer as we have fallen in love with your country.
 Thank you for making our trip a memorable one. Everyone at Kuoda is professional, efficient and caring, I must say that as an experienced traveler I have never encountered such outstanding service.  Your staff went above and beyond with every detail and exceeded our expectations. 
You can be sure that I will recommend you to all my friends.
Thanks again to everybody at Kuoda and we will definitely stay in touch.
All the best,

D. and L. Linari
Personalized Peruvian Vacation, June 2011

All of our guides were wonderful.  As far as our highlights, we enjoyed pretty much everything.  We absolutely loved Machu Picchu and the Floating Islands.  If you asked my kids what the best part was, they'd be torn between Machu Picchu, the Floating Islands, and the Amazon (but I think Machu Picchu would win).  For me, as wonderful as those sights were, I loved the people.  The Quechwa people of the Andes stole my heart.  What charming people!  And the people that lived on the Uros were absolutely delightful!  I also loved my visit to the orphanage in Puno and I wanted to thank Edson, Jose Luiz, and Victor for making that possible.  That was such a wonderful experience, and I will not forget them.  I'm already working with some people here to raise money to buy things they need and ship it over.  So, while I know that wasn't on my itinerary, I want to thank you all for making that happen!

L. Simpson, USA
Peru Family Travel, May 2011

We had a fabulous time. Thank you so much for the arrangements by Kuoda.

M. Go, Philippines
Peru Luxury Travel, May 2011

We had a wonderful time in Peru and absolutely loved the country. I appreciate all of Kuoda's help in making our trip smooth and enjoyable. We loved entering rooms to find welcome notes and little treats waiting for us. It was the personal service that your company provided that made this trip a special one for us as opposed to "just the norm".

It's really impossible for us to pick favorites, because the whole trip was incredible. The beach, jungle, sacred valley, Machu Picchu and Cuzco were all fantastic trips in their own right, and all were great.

A. Siegrist, USA
Peru Luxury Travel, May 2011

Hi,  Our sincere thanks for arranging such a wonderful introduction to Peru.  Your communication, from your prompt response to our initial email query through to the execution of the trip, was superb.  Thomas is a skilled listener who coordinated a trip that exposed us to fascinating and beautiful aspects of your country.  Edson was attentive and available while we were in Peru..  We were quite pleased with the quality of our guides throughout the trip, most especially with Pilar.  Her level of knowledge and enthusiasm was delightful.

Please appreciate that we were very pleased with our trip to Peru and would unquestionably contact you to help arrange trips to other places in South America.

Best wishes,

H. & M.Farbstein, USA
Peru Luxury Travel, May 2011

How lucky we were to discover Kuoda!  My husband and I had done some research and knew some spots we wanted to explore in Peru, but we knew we didn't want a group tour.  Victoria, Kuoda trip planner, helped us sort through the myriad of options and arranged the most efficient travel schedule.  She worked closely with us to put us into quality lodging and to meet our budget targets.  She encouraged us to include some unique places in the itinerary.  All of her logistics worked out wonderfully.  Much of the time it was my husband and me with a driver and a guide. We loved Peru, but what made the trip were the Kuoda people:  the planners and everybody… from those who met our planes and transferred our luggage and our drivers to our special personal guide, Betshi, made this an absolute favorite.  Victoria and Mery (owner) checked in with us to make sure all was well.   Everyone from Kuoda was extremely knowledgeable and took so much pride in their Peruvian heritage and personalized their service beyond any of our expectations. 

J. O'Neil, USA
Peru Customized Travel, May 2011

Dear Mery, 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.
Regards,

C. and D. Ko
Personalized Peruvian Travel, May 2011

Hi Victoria,  We had a fabulous experience traveling with Kuoda!   As I said to you in person, right from the beginning I enjoyed our correspondence.  You really listened to all of trip desires and catered to our interests.  I wish I was back at the Quinoa Boutique hotel right now!!   It was absolutely delightful to meet you in person--and David and I were touched that you took the time to come by and say hello.  Your warmth and positive energy made us feel so comfortable and "at home".   Jimmy and Hernan were the best people to travel with along the Sacred Valley.  Jimmy's passion for the country and historical knowledge made him the perfect guide.  And, Hernan's happy, calm demeanor made us feel very secure.  We all became friends by the end of the trip.   
Machu Picchu of course was majestic and spiritual.  It was better than I anticipated.  It is the perfect marriage of natural environment and man-made structure.   I have travelled all over the world, and Machu Picchu is among the top most amazing things I have ever seen.
Cusco was the perfect place to "unwind".  We loved staying at Quinoa because it felt like our own apartment. You also structured the trip perfectly.  After eating dinner out 4 nights in the Sacred Valley, it was so wonderful to then be able to relax in "our own place".   We took advantage of the food basket in the kitchen and ate in "3 of the 4 nights".  It was so wonderful to stare at the beautiful Cusco lights at night.
Peru is a most wonderful country with warm people.   You are welcome to post any of my comments on your website.

R. Coun, USA
Peru Anniversary Travel, May 2011

Once again, I wanted to say how spectacular our trip was.  Perfectly planned to every detail and we LOVED every moment.  And I mean LOVED. 
Thank you again for absolutely everything!

A. Watlington, Bermuda
Peru Anniversary Travel, May 2011

“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, USA
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

"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
Peru Luxury Tour, 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
Peru Luxury Tour, January 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

"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
Peru Luxury Tour, 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!"

, USA
Peru Luxury Tour, 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
Peru Luxury Tour, 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
Peru Luxury Tour, 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!"

, USA
Peru Luxury Tour, 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
Peru Luxury Tour, 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
Peru Luxury Tour, 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
Peru Luxury Tour, 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
Peru Luxury Tour, 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
Peru Luxury Tour, 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
Peru Luxury Tour, 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
Peru Luxury Tour, 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
Peru Luxury Tour, 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

Peru Luxury Tour, 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
Peru Luxury Tour, 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
Peru Luxury Tour, 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
Peru Luxury Tour, 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
Peru Luxury Tour, 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
Peru Luxury Tour, 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
Peru Luxury Tour, 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
Peru Luxury Tour, 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
Peru Luxury Tour, 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
Peru Luxury Tour, 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
Peru Luxury Tour, 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
Peru Luxury Tour, 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
Peru Luxury Tour, 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
Peru Luxury Tour, 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
Peru Luxury Tour, 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
Peru Luxury Tour, 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
Peru Luxury Tour, 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
Peru Luxury Tour, 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
Peru Luxury Tour, 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
Peru Luxury Tour, 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
Peru Luxury Tour, 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
Peru Luxury Tour, 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
Peru Luxury Tour, 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
Peru Luxury Tour, 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
Peru Luxury Tour, 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
Peru Luxury Tour, 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
Peru Luxury Tour, 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
Peru Luxury Tour, 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
Peru Luxury Tour, 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
Peru Luxury Tour, 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
Peru Luxury Tour, 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
Peru Luxury Tour, 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
Peru Luxury Tour, 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
Peru Luxury Tour, 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
Peru Luxury Tour, 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
Peru Luxury Tour, 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
Peru Luxury Tour, 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
Peru Luxury Tour, 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
Peru Luxury Tour, 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
Peru Luxury Tour, 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
Peru Luxury Tour, 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
Peru Luxury Tour, 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
Peru Luxury Tour, 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
Peru Luxury Tour, 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
Peru Luxury Tour, 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
Peru Luxury Tour, 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
Peru Luxury Tour, 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
Peru Luxury Tour, 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
Peru Luxury Tour, 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
Peru Luxury Tour, 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
Peru Luxury Tour, September 2009

"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
Peru Family Tour, December 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
Peru Private Tour, June 2006

"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
Peru Tour, April 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
Peru Tour, March 2006

"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
Peru Tour, December 2005