Peru Guided Tours

Accommodations Review

Every hotel was special and luxurious! Just wish we had more time to enjoy them. The Delfin I was a dream! The boat and crew were fun, helpful, and very special. (BUT, the Lima airport hotel was not so special, but obviously very convenient.) The hotel in Machu Picchu was wonderful--Ann and Polly took a tour of the flora and fauna on the grounds, lovely. And of course, the Amazon and boat!

Meals Review

Meals on the Delfin I were great and most restaurants were good. We had some very good local food when checking out other restaurants. The buffet lunch at Muna Restaurant was particularly special! The boxed lunches were mediocre.

Crew & Guides Review

The guides were amazing--very knowledgeable and helpful. We loved our [Amazon] guide, Denis, who could find wildlife where no one else could (his bird imitations were especially helpful); the boat crew were very sweet and helpful. [A Peru] Guide Victor and our driver were very helpful with medical assistance!

We didn't really have a principal leader, but our local guides were wonderful. Tomas helped us in Lima with airport, hotel, and covid testing. He was very enthusiastic and helpful! He knew the airport protocols and guided us smoothly. Eduardo was our guide in Lima and explained religious and historical issues in Peru and was very professional. In Arequipa we had Victor, who proudly explained his city's history and showed us some lovely churches and the convent. He also found us condors in Colca Canyon!

In Puno, Charo was our guide, as well as on our 8 hour trip to Cusco. She was fun, knowledgeable, and enthusiastic. [Our traveling companions] went on the tour to the islands in Puno and said they learned a lot from her experiences there. On our way to Cusco, she asked us about stopping for lunch at a small place she knew. We were glad to have a real local meal of lamb and potatoes!

Alvin was our guide in Cusco and Machu Picchu. He was professional and enthusiastic about the ruins and churches. He had to take a different train to M.P. but always found us and led us onward! He also made sure we got on the plane back to Lima.

Our last guide was Denis on the Delfin I. He was so knowledgeable, so helpful, and enthusiastic, especially about the fauna and flora of the Amazon. He and the rest of the crew were also fun! [Members of our group] used the expertise of the onboard medic to help control stomach issues.

Itinerary Review

Museo Larco, Malecon, and Kennedy Park in Lima were very nice; the convent in Arequipa was lovely and interesting, the condors and hot springs in Colca Canyon, the local lunch with our guide, Charo; the Hiram Bingham train was a real treat. The only place we went that wasn't very exciting was Maca.

We could have used an extra day in Lima and in Cusco. The early morning departures were difficult, but we knew we needed to do that. A little more free time would have been nice, although the planned tours were very good.

Transportation Review

Everything worked very smoothly and our drivers were uniformly professional and skilled! A big thank you to Metropolitan Tours! The vans were very clean and the drivers nice and safe. They often gave us bottled water and helped us when entering and leaving.

AdventureSmith Explorations Review

Taylor always answered our questions and was a great help in preparing the trip for us. We are experienced travelers, but we appreciated being pampered and looked after, especially at our age. Having our bags and check-ins and transportation taken care of was always a relief.

Traveler Advice

The Amazon cruise was the first thing we noted and wanted to do; then we began planning the rest. So glad we did the cruise last; it was a luxury we enjoyed after 2 weeks on the road. Spend a bit more time in places, and trust in AdventureSmith to get it right!

Accommodations Review

All of our hotels were excellent. I would suggest staying two nights at least in both Cusco and Quito because you need a rest day in both places.

Crew & Guides Review

Yashira in Cusco was especially wonderful.

AdventureSmith Explorations Review

Aaron did the best job; his planning was so good. I have and will keep recommending him to others taking trips and will be back for our next adventure. All of my questions and concerns were answered so efficiently and in a timely manner. I am just so impressed with how much work you all put in to making these trips special. I was so used to doing it myself on line, etc. but now I won't.

The timeline, locations, hotels and other recommendations worked out beautifully. Metropolitan Travel in South America is such a good company. Their drivers and especially their tour guides do an amazing job explaining the culture and history of their countries. We could not have been happier!

Traveler Advice

Just to make sure you have a few nights at least in the major cities so you are not always just flying in and out...we needed some "down" time but did find it on the Santa Cruz where all of our luggage was in one place for a while!

Accommodations Review

The lodges were top notch and small enough where we rarely had other trekkers near us.

Meals Review

Local cuisine prepared by local chefs. Organic veggies. Perfect.

Crew & Guides Review

Wilder had everything under control. If anyone had a physical issue or there was a concern with noise, for example, he was all over that.

Itinerary Review

[I most enjoyed] Going to villages away from the big cities, though the dining experience in Cusco was great. The hikes at high elevation were exhilarating. The last couple of days were more transportation days than anything else, save for the several hours at Machu Picchu. The citadel was impressive, but it was a large tourist attraction. We preferred hikes and rides past villages and glaciers.

Transportation Review

It was fine, though we handled transport to and from the airport. It was cheaper that way.

AdventureSmith Explorations Review

It was on my bucket list to go to Machu Picchu and Andrew at AdventureSmith helped us choose the Lares Adventure. The [AdventureSmith] booklet was helpful and we used the checklist, though we also looked up recommendations online. This was my second trip with AdventureSmith. The first was to the Galápagos Islands pre-pandemic.

Traveler Advice

Be physically prepared and acclimate to the elevation well before the trek. I took Diamox and avoided any sickness, though breathing took some adjustment and my legs could have been in better shape. Drink water constantly. Don’t get so fixated on Machu Picchu that you take a shorter trip and miss the local villages. In the end, the local experiences were the highlights of the trip.

Accommodations Review

The Casa Andina properties were nice and Aranwa and Sol y Luna were absolutely superb.

Meals Review

Friends told me the food in Peru was great and they were right. The cooking class we had in Ariquipa was quite an experience. Unfortunately, Chica canceled on us but we were rescheduled in another location and the Chef was a true delight, sharing some historical and cultural perspectives on the dishes we prepared.

Crew & Guides Review

All of our guides we wonderful - full of knowledge and ready to help out with anything, they made every step of the trip exceptional.

AdventureSmith Explorations Review

With so many unknowns it was nice to have someone present alternatives, suggest options, and schedule details. This provides important peace of mind. This is the first private guided vacation we've taken and it will definitely not be the last. I'll be sure to contact AdventureSmith for our next adventure!

Accommodations Review

When we were in the Costa del Sol airport hotel, didn't even need a guide as we could have been instructed to just leave the baggage claim, look to the right, and the only building there is the hotel (it has a walkbridge connected to the airport). All other hotels were above expectations.

Meals Review

I think on meals, a little more explanation would be helpful. Included hotel meals were a nice surprise as I didn't realize as many were included as they were. We are more foodie types, so the buffets were not really our thing. Probably great for most other American families. The thought of including meals was great, but I think if I knew they were buffet type meals in Macchu Picchu, I would have gone with having the guide take us to some more interesting places.

Crew & Guides Review

Ramiro was phenomenal. Excellent knowledge. Caring with our child (got her up Wayna Picchu completely safely when I was questioning my parenting decision on that one).

AdventureSmith Explorations Review

Taylor was great. Setting up this trip was simple and easy and she was helpful with any and all my questions. Excellent management of all travel plans. 

Accommodations Review

All of our stays were hospitable and beautiful!

Meals Review

I cannot believe how good we ate!  Loved the quinoa soups, chicken, and pisco sours!!

Crew & Guides Review

Leo was incredible! So passionate and knowledgeable - we could really feel his love and passion for his country and people. He was patient, funny, kind, honest, professional and personable. We all felt a connection with him we wish we could bring him to the U.S. and give him a tour in return. We cannot thank him enough - honestly.

Transportation was amazing!  When we arrived anywhere they were there waiting for us.  We never sat around or had to worry about how to get from place to place. The best part was we never felt like we wasted anytime. We were always on the move from one adventure to the next!

AdventureSmith Explorations Review

Andrew was key to making this wonderful and well-planned trip come together flawlessly. Thank you for all the planning and translating too! A trip not ever to be forgotten!

We were told to bring U.S. dollars that are in best condition, but I did not expect Peru to be so strict! Not a single rip or tear was accepted. We should have brought way more cash because most of our bills were not accepted anywhere. Not a big complaint but kind of a hassle.

Traveler Advice

Bring extra cash - most bills will not be accepted in Peru unless they are absolutely flawless.  Take it easy the first day or two in Cusco because of the altitude and do not drink the water!

Accommodations Review

Even after looking at the lodges on your website, I was not prepared for how comfortable and accommodating each of the lodges was. From the moment we arrived at each lodge to when we left, our comfort was important to our hosts. I really liked the hot water bottles in my bed at night. 

Meals Review

The food was fantastic! I enjoyed the opportunity to try the different foods. 

Crew & Guides Review

I really appreciated the time Pepe and Jimmy took with me in helping me to improve my trekking techniques. I was usually the last one in the group, but both guides were always encouraging. Both guides seemed to really enjoy what they were doing as well as sharing their knowledge of Peru and its history. 

AdventureSmith Explorations Review

Once we booked the trip, Aaron sent us what we needed to start getting ready. He also quickly answered any questions we had. The only thing I wish that would have been addressed in our final email was what to expect with customs and our baggage in Lima. Otherwise, I had what I needed. We had everything we needed to make it a successful trip. We knew we could call or email with our questions. 

Traveler Advice

Challenge yourself and be open to these wonderful experiences.