Travelers Sara and Drew found the key to crowd-free Machu Picchu was the early train to the one-day Inca Trail.

We just returned from one week in Peru planned by Mariana and her team. What an incredible country! It was truly a grand adventure and I’m so happy with how it turned out.

We spent the duration of our trip in the department of Cusco with overnight layovers in the airport in Lima on either end. The airport hotel was in a transition period and just beginning to open up, and we were impressed with how Mariana and her team handled contingency by quickly moving us to another hotel before our arrival.

On our first day in Cusco, our flight was a little bit delayed, but we still managed to attend all of our activities with our wonderful guide, Camila. The llama farm experience was the perfect way to start our adventure, because who doesn’t want to hang out with a llama immediately upon arriving in Peru? I highly recommend that all travelers visiting Peru try the Pachamanca-style lunch. It was hearty and delicious.

We emphasized repeatedly to Mariana that we wanted beautiful, off-the-beaten-path hikes that were challenging and where we were unlikely to encounter other hikers. Mariana absolutely delivered. On our first day, we drove 45 minutes up a long dirt road to 14,000 feet and hiked to Huchuy Qosqo. Let me tell you, heaving for air at high elevation and running into nobody but an 80-year old woman farming in flip flops with her alpaca like she has been there her entire life is a mind-blowing thing. We loved seeing how native Peruvians maintain their traditional way of life.

Our favorite day of the trip was Machu Picchu. To those who are physically fit and like a challenge, I definitely recommend doing the one-day Inca Trail to hike into Machu Picchu. We knew that we didn’t want to spend the fortune that it costs to stay in Aguas Calientes overnight and deal with the crazy crowds there. Instead, we stayed in Las Qolqas Eco Resort in Ollantaytambo and took the earliest train to KM104 for the one-day Inca Trail. Mariana definitely knew that there wouldn’t be any other hikers starting that early. Our guide, Christian, was fantastic, and we arrived to the Winay Wayna site in record time. We were so lucky to have it (and the Inca trail) completely to ourselves the entire time. We did not see another soul (except a few porters) until we arrived at the Sun Gate. Truly spectacular and unexpected—the early bird catches the worm! Seeing this glorious site with absolutely no other people in it was such a rare experience. And something I’ll remember for the rest of my life. We made it to the sun gate after about three and a half hours of hiking, where we had plenty of time to relax before our entry. We got to hang out around the Machu Picchu site for almost four hours, eating a lunch and taking a nap at the sun gate before hiking down and taking plenty of pictures at the entry, and then stopping for a coffee before our timed entry to explore the site. Everyone should see Machu Picchu once in their life if they can. It’s truly a site that commands your attention. You can’t peel your eyes away.

We also took a long adventure to Ausangate Seven Lakes Hike. While there were a few more people there, it was never a problem. This hike is extremely remote and high elevation, and hands down the best mountain scenery I’ve ever experienced in my life. Colorado hardly rivals these majestic snow-covered mountains, surrounded by craggy rocks and turquoise lakes.

My husband and I are marathon runners and avid hikers, and were adamant with Mariana that our guide not slow us down (this is a travel experience we’ve had before). Both of our guides, Jose Luis and Christian, were outstanding and absolutely up to the task. Jose Luis even did some trail running with us at Huchuy Qosqo. We also laughed a lot and had a great time with Christian! The guides make the trip, and Mariana’s expert selection was appreciated. I especially appreciated having good drivers. You DO NOT want to drive yourself around in rural Peru; the roads are not for the faint-hearted, signage is poor, and drivers pass without warning.

The food in Peru was outstanding. We loved trying the fruit juice and churros in San Pedro market in Cusco, and the Japanese Peruvian fusion was exceptional. Our favorite restaurant in Peru was Alqa in Ollantaytambo, where we enjoyed standout trout ceviche and an extraordinarily unique and historic atmosphere that felt like stepping back in time.

There is so much more to see in Peru. We only had a week, but we’d love to return to see Huaraz and Cordillera Blanca, Arequipa and the Colca Canyon, and the Amazon rainforest. Mariana and her team will take excellent care of you, should you visit Peru.

***One disclaimer I should mention: Do not underestimate the altitude in Cusco & the surroundings! While my husband and I do very well at high elevations and didn’t get altitude sickness or AMS, it suppresses your appetite and destroys your sleep quality. You can only imagine how exhausting it is stacking big hike after big hike on barely any sleep or calories. Be prepared—it’s worth it though!

We had a wonderful trip designed by Mariana. I was overwhelmed by the complexity of our trip to Peru so for the first time, I tried Wendy Perrin and subsequently, the planners she recommended. They really helped me figure out how to plan this trip, and were very responsive during the planning process. Not sure if I could have gotten there on my own.

Ultimately, the itinerary was ideal for acclimating to the altitude over the course of the trip. We were well escorted through almost everything, including getting to and from the airport at every junction. All the guides and representatives were friendly and helpful. Especially good was our main tour guide—Lizbeth, who made us feel welcome and was generous about little things like paying the few sol for us to use the restroom in Machu Picchu.

The itinerary was also packed with activity, and we got much more done that we would have on our own. A few unusual additions that are not on every itinerary and that we found meaningful were a trip to an art museum called ALQA, which highlighted Peruvian artists and culture—we spoke to a woman who I believe is the curator—and a visit to a hacienda, in which we met a multi-generational owner whose ownership of the hacienda was shaped by the political history of Peru.

We enjoyed pretty much all the details of the itinerary and are grateful for the memories we made as a family. There were a few small issues with communication in which the on-the-ground guides and the main office were not coordinated, but ultimately things were resolved promptly once brought to their attention.

My name is Micaela Kaplan, and I went to Peru April 11-20, 2025 on a trip planned by Mariana and had an incredible time! We focused mostly on Cusco, the Sacred Valley, and Machu Picchu. Mariana was amazing to work with—she answered all of our questions in detail, and took the time to get to know our group to help us pick activities that we’d love. Aside from Machu Picchu, which was obviously a highlight, we loved our canoeing/kayaking trip on Lake Piuray, a picturesque lake at 12000 ft of altitude that we never would have found on our own! We also loved our gourmet picnic and our time at the Rainbow Mountains.

Our guide, Carlos, was so knowledgeable and funny, and took amazing care of us throughout our whole trip, providing excellent recommendations for meals and activities for the times he wasn’t with us. I can’t recommend them highly enough! My advice for working with Mariana and her team is to tell her what your specific interests are—she’ll help you plan a trip that is exactly what you want it to be.

We loved the day near Lamay with the Huayllafara community organized by El Bike Project. Our guide, Rafael, was amazing, engaging and fun. We e-biked into the highlands, spent a few hours with families who farm using traditional methods, and hiked back. It was really beautiful, peaceful, and a unique, off-the-beaten path experience.