Karen Lindfors and her husband enjoy a river hike in an Atacama red rock canyon.

We arrived in the Atacama Desert of Chile following a trip to Antarctica. What a change in scenery! Mark planned our journey to the Atacama which was supposed to be followed by an overland traversa into Bolivia (more on that later). We stayed at the Explora Atacama Hotel and we cannot say enough about how wonderful it was. Mark had arranged a private guide and driver for us so we were able to pick and choose the “explorations” we took part in. We did a wondrous variety of things, from soaking in a private natural hot spring to sliding down sand dunes to doing a river hike in a beautiful red rock canyon. Our visit was capped off with a trip to see the geyser field on the altiplano at 14,000 feet of elevation, which included a breakfast while we watched vicunas roam. Magnificent!

We were only supposed to stay at the Explora Atacama for three nights before journeying into Bolivia, but on our first full day there my husband developed a kidney stone. The hotel staff and our guide could not have been more helpful or kinder. Maureen, the hotel manager, arranged for a doctor to come to the hotel. She also drove us to the pharmacy in San Pedro de Atacama several times. They were in contact with Mark’s team who kept track of our situation. My husband found that walking and being active kept the pain level down so he was able to enjoy all but one of the excursions.

Knowing that we were going to be in a remote part of Bolivia at high altitude, we decided it was best to cancel that part of our trip. We returned home, kidney stone and all, after staying at the Explora for five nights. Mark has been very helpful and prompt in getting documents to us so that we can make a claim on our insurance. Three days after we returned home, my husband passed the stone and is pain free. We are so grateful that both Mark’s team and the Explora folks took such good care of us. We would not hesitate to use them in future travels.

Will and Kate Nury meet a local and his alpaca while climbing Palcoyo. Photo: Traveler Beth Nury

Our 2024 holiday trip did not disappoint! We selected Peru as our destination due to the warm weather, direct flight from Newark to Lima and time zone consistent with EST. Marisol’s colleague Mark and his supporting cast did a great job of getting us acclimated to Peru’s higher altitude by starting our trip in Lima, then moving to higher elevated locations (Cusco) in preparation for our climb at Palcoyo (4,975m/16,300 ft.), a lesser-known rainbow mountain with few visitors.

One trip highlight included hiking the one day Inca Trail with our guide Johann. As with other trips booked with Wendy’s WOW List planners, the tour guides make the trip. Johann was patient with all of us (two teens and two adults that hike at different speeds!), knowledgeable about the plethora of relics we encountered, and willing to share the names of local restaurants in Cusco which were outstanding and affordable!

When departing from Cusco to Puerto Maldonado en route to the Amazon rainforest, we ran into a three-hour flight delay with Latam Airlines. (From discussions with locals, Latam is notoriously late with domestic flights.) The delay caused us to miss our river boat transport and spend a night in Puerto Maldonado. Thankfully, Yasmin, an advisor with Mark’s team, secured a night at a local hotel and coordinated an early morning pick up with the Tambopata Research Center Lodge staff.

Another trip highlight was the Tambopata Research Center. Wildlife sightings were plentiful and the staff educated on the conservation efforts of the lodge. Temperatures are high, but the guides set a reasonable pace and planned hikes in the early morning, to avoid the afternoon oppressive heat.

Since our return flight did not leave until midnight and we arrived at the airport from Tambopata in the early afternoon, we reserved day rooms at the Wyndham Lima Airport Hotel, which offered a comfortable place to shower, relax and eat before the red eye flight to Newark. I highly recommend it!

It was so special to make friends and see how people live a simpler life high in the Andes.

Our trip to Peru was one my family will remember forever. We started in the Amazon rainforest, and saw so much wildlife at the Tambopata Research Center. This really felt like a special place, and we felt very far away from civilization. My kids loved the birds, monkeys and boat rides. The food was great, our guide Dino was wonderful, and we had a great experience. The morning watching the macaws at the clay lick was a highlight. But we were pretty ready to escape the heat and the bugs after 3 days and get to the cooler air in the Andes.

We absolutely loved our time in the Sacred Valley and Cusco. The resort at Sol Y Luna was so nice that we had to force ourselves to leave to go adventuring each day. Our favorite day of the trip was the day we spent at the Lamay Village. It was so special to make friends and see how people live a simpler life high in the Andes. We also loved our one-day hike on the Inca trail into Machu Picchu—incredible! My family could have spent several more days exploring Cusco as well.

Every hotel on this trip was perfection. Our guide Rogers and driver Jose were both incredible. The locals treated us with such kindness everywhere we went. There is so much to see and do in Peru…10 days just wasn’t enough time!

I took a trip to Peru and Bolivia with my husband in October. It was our first time working with a travel planner and we had a lot to lear. We worked with Mark and his team at their company. We would never have been able to plan such a complicated trip without his help, and our experience in Peru was amazing—including seeing a Jaguar, seeing the morning mist as some of the first people arriving at Machu Picchu, and learning so much from our excellent guides. It was really special!

Our experiences in Bolivia were more mixed, some wonderful hotels and guides, having some unique experiences and meeting people we never would have met on our own. But some of the time, we felt that we were put in unsafe situations and were really unprepared for what we were doing, with guides that were completely unresponsive to our needs and preferences. We had a certain amount of hand-holding we really didn’t need and sometimes felt like we treated like tottering “old people.” It was a weird mixture. Anyway, I would use Mark’s team for a trip to Peru without question…less so if I was going to Bolivia.

Kathleen Fitch at the top of Huayna Picchu.

The trip to Peru was awesome! Everything was taken care of seamlessly—we just had to enjoy. The greeters and facilitators were, without exception, professional, on time, organized, obviously communicating with their coworkers and guides, as well as warm, welcoming and kind.
The guides were exceptional, including David in the Amazon and Rogers in Cusco. My husband had some untimely hip issues and had to bow out of a few tours but our guides were concerned and did everything they could to help him do more. The Lima guides were perfect—each guide had the right personality for their particular tours.

Restaurants for dinners that were suggested turned out great. Really enjoyed our lunch in Lima as well as the city tour. The Amazon was unusually cold but David was amazing in his ability to find critters and so knowledgeable. Rogers was also very well versed. My friends declined an additional hike while at Machu Picchu and my gimpy spouse made it up the little mountain (Huchuy Picchu) with Rogers’ help after he helped me climb Huayna Picchu. I really wanted to do it but was hesitant—he had observed my earlier climb at Ollantaytambo and gave me the confidence to do it.

The hotels, including breakfasts, were very comfortable and top-notch. Better than most US hotels. Drivers were likewise very good and I always felt safe.

I thought our meal at the El Albergue hotel that included a tour of the organic farm by the owner was going to be the top highlight (although close to seeing capybara and monkeys in the Amazon), with an interesting and exceptional Pachamanca lunch—went to third. Huayna Picchu and the Machu Picchu (incl staying at the Sanctuary) was second. I think our wow was the lunch/cooking lesson (and market tour) provided by Jose Luis Lescano and his wife Cristina was just wonderful. The entree was an at-home version of the Pachamanca, so interesting to put together and delish. The starter was put together with the help of Cristina and also fun and delicious. We had a couple of unusual amuse bouches in there and drank 2 very good Peruvian wines. The couple was a joy to be with and of course, as also being guides, very informative.

My husband had to leave the last day to go home instead of our Galapagos cruise that had been preplanned, and Raul and Marisol’s office were very helpful getting him situated in Lima until his much later flight took off.

Mark planned an amazing 10-day trip for the four us (two couples) in Peru that spanned across Lima, Sacred Valley, Machu Picchu, and Cusco. We ate at some excellent restaurants (Maido, Central, MIL), with very good local restaurants mixed in as well. Our guide Jonathan throughout the trip was one of the best we’ve ever had, immense knowledge and extremely friendly, he almost felt like a family member by the end of the trip!

Other than Machu Picchu, the highlight of the trip was the Hiram Bingham train from Machu Picchu to Cusco — what an incredible experience with dinner and entertainment that made the 3.5-hr journey fly by! We loved the unique experiences Mark arranged, such as the visit to the Center for Traditional Textiles of Cusco, where we learned about textile weaving from local women; MIL Immersion Experience where we spent 2-3 hrs walking through the native lands to learn about local ingredients from a farmer then ending with lunch; and an in-home cooking class with a local chef that started with a walk through the farmers’ market and ended with a delicious 3-course lunch atop the chef’s balcony.

Jessica and the in-country team were simply tremendous with their concierge support throughout our trip, as there were several instances where schedule/timings had to be changed, and especially at the end of our trip where our return flights home were cancelled/delayed twice. Overall, we had an awesome vacation and big thanks to Marisol’s team!

A woman weaving in Lamay, Peru. Photo: Tim Triche

Despite a disastrous beginning due to airline travel delays and cancelled flights, Mark and Jessica rose to the occasion and successfully rearranged our itinerary so that despite over two lost days of travel we were nonetheless able to do almost everything that was originally scheduled. Kudos to them for dealing with a very difficult situation. The trip itinerary they arranged was truly exceptional; I have never had a better travel experience. They arranged all the things we requested and added many more that enriched our experience far beyond our expectations.

Our guides were absolutely top notch; Claudio in particular deserves a shout-out. He accompanied us for most of the trip and was the consummate travel guide—knowledgeable, engaging, experienced, and a truly nice guy. And, an accomplished photographer who identified some fantastic photo ops for us that resulted in many keepers that will enable us to remember this trip for years. I have done photography as a serious hobby for decades, and another shout-out to Adriana, the photographer who took us around Cusco at the end of our trip. I learned a great deal from her, and took some creative photos that would otherwise never have occurred to me. All in all, the trip couldn’t have been better, and my entire family will never forget the experience.

Everyone thinks of Machu Picchu when thinking of a trip to Peru, as we did, but we now realize it is much, more more than that. Cusco and the Sacred Valley were the heart of the Inca civilization; Machu Picchu just epitomizes that lost culture, but it lives on in many ways in the people you meet along the way. In contrast, Lima is a cosmopolitan urban city with fantastic food and art, and hotels to match, a delightful contrast to Cusco and the Sacred Valley. And lest you consider bypassing the Sanctuary Lodge at the entrance gate to Machu Picchu: don’t. It is worth every penny, and such a pleasure to simply walk to your hotel from the gates of Machu Picchu after hiking up and down all day long.

And a word to photographers: Be sure to use a polarizing filter on your camera; the light is harsh and unforgiving. And, a wide-angle lens is a must; many views in the cities and in Machu Picchu are in tight spaces or benefit from a wide-angle view of things, like street photography in the cities and the panoramic views from Huayna Picchu and Huchuy Picchu (the smaller of the two peaks overlooking Machu Picchu). And finally, a note about hotels: They were all great, but Sol y Luna in the Sacred Valley and Monasterio in Cusco were unforgettable; truly remarkable hotels. And worth noting: All of this was put together on rather short notice at high season by the folks in Marisol’s office. We couldn’t have been more pleased with our trip, thanks to their efforts.

There is something truly magical about watching the clouds part, on a misty rainy day high in the Andes, to reveal the dramatic mountain peaks of Machu Picchu & the extraordinary Incan ruins! We felt so very lucky to experience the mountains & this very spiritual site. From our trip to Machu Picchu, our travels through the Sacred Valley, our boat trip on the Amazon, & our Belmond train trip across the Andes’ high-altitude plateau, we can only offer gratitude & applause for everything Marisol’s team did to make our month long trip to Peru one of our best ever!

The weather didn’t always cooperate (we were travelling at the end of the rainy season in early March), but we had exceptional people experiences, & we really appreciated the knowledge & warm personalities of all the guides & drivers Marisol’s office selected for us. The detailed pre-planning with Mark Green, the beautiful boutique hotel choices (& many much-appreciated room upgrades), & incredibly fast communication with the team while we were on the ground in Peru all contributed to make this an exceptional trip. We can’t recommend this company enough. So many standout experiences!

Besides Machu Picchu & exploring many other Incan sites, in the Sacred Valley we had a fabulous picnic organized by our guide Juan with a beautiful vista & great food from the highly rated Cicciolina restaurant in Cusco. A hike & lunch high in the Andes made for us by villagers from the Lamay community whose elders still wear their traditional dress. A 4-night small boat cruise (Delphina 1 with 4 cabins) on the Amazon River out of Iquitos where we not only got to visit several remote communities, we had the opportunity to develop new friendships on the boat.

We would definitely travel with Marisol’s office again! Very, very special & hardworking team!!!

After a false start with another firm, Mark Green put together a wonderful trip, answered all of our issues and did so quickly and without drama. Mark and his team managed reservations at spectacular dining locations, the guided tours were responsive to our interests and pace and responded well to minor disruptions. The TravelKey app was wonderful — all travel and contact info in one place, didn’t need to carry a folder of paper. The advice to stay at the Sanctuary Lodge in Machu Picchu was a highlight. Great hotel selections. We didn’t exactly know what to expect at local food adventure “Cusco Market Tour and Home Cooking Class,” but it too was a highlight. We would use Mark and his office again without hesitation.

We travelled to Peru with the help of Mark Green. From beginning of planning to the last day of our trip (July 11-23, 2023) we had an incredibly great experience. Mark listened to our preferences and concerns, which resulted in an ideal trip for us. We stayed in hotels of our liking, ate amazing food, and stayed busy with one amazing activity after another. Our guide in the Sacred Valley and Cusco, Adriana, was knowledgeable, fun, flexible, and kind. In the Amazon, Mark snagged the best guide at the Inkaterra Amazonica Reserva, Javier, who shared the secrets of the Amazon. I can’t imagine a better birthday trip.

We just returned from our amazing adventure in Bolivia and the Atacama Desert. We have been dreaming and planning this trip with Mark since 2019 (a little thing called COVID postponed our original trip). It was such a pleasure to work with Mark as we revised our original itinerary. He was easy to work with and very inspirational. He listened to what we wanted from this trip (learning about the culture, place, and people of Bolivia), shared his insights, gave suggestions for experiences we did not even know we wanted, and created an itinerary that exceeded our expectations. He created a 14-day adventure that catered to each of our individual interests from hiking, food, tapestries, and photo opportunities. He was very responsive to questions and concerns during the planning of this trip and while we were on our trip. Of course, our trip would not have been as enjoyable without our amazing drivers — who somehow got us to each of our destinations and who spotted and stopped so we could photograph foxes, llamas, vicunas, guanacos, viscacha, flamingos, ducks, Suri alpacas, and was always on the ready to stop for an armadillo) — AND our guide, Amara, who shared her love and knowledgeable for her country and language and made sure we learned something new each day.

All the accommodations Mark chose were clean, comfortable, and conveniently located. We especially enjoyed ATIX in La Paz, which showcased the artwork of Gaston Ugalde, and Explora in San Pedro de Atacama, which was luxurious and catered to our every need. The reservations Mark made for our lunch and dinners highlighted the Bolivian food culture in La Paz — we especially enjoyed Gustu (WOW!), Ancestral (DELICIOUS!), and Ali Pacha (AMAZING! — and this coming from an “anti” vegetable person!)

Although not all our itinerary was executed, we had many highlights on our adventure! It was fascinating to learn about traditional indigenous life not only through food, but by visiting the Tarabuco market, visiting master weavers in their homes, and visiting Elizabeth’s (our Sucre guide) hacienda in Candelaria, where we helped to make a traditional countryside lunch (we are looking forward to making the Sunday soup for our families). We also enjoyed the stunning views of the Uyuni salt flats — we had a delicious lunch alongside a small patch of water with flamingos; hiked a small island; were mesmerized by the reflections on the water at sunset where we enjoyed a lovely bottle of wine and some treats; and were awed at seeing the sky full of stars twinkling over the salt flats!

Our final stay at Explora Atacama was the perfect ending to a wonderful trip. We enjoyed full-day and half-day hikes, hot springs, and delicious drinks and food! A beautiful setting, fantastic staff, and many types of different adventures and excursions — there was something for everyone!!!!

THANKS Wendy and team for connecting us to Mark. We would highly recommend Mark to anyone traveling to Bolivia.

We traveled from the U.S. to Peru for the week of Thanksgiving, and Mark Green and everyone in his office did a great job creating the trip for us. We traveled with three teenagers and we visited an ecolodge in the rainforest in the Amazon Basin, and then went to Cusco to visit the Sacred Valley area as well as Machu Picchu. Mark made all our travel and hotel arrangements and did a great job organizing the whole trip. Our guides and drivers were fabulous and we learned just how important having a great travel agent was when Peru began having protests that shut down the cities. Our travel agent and guide managed to reschedule each of our days, filling in where possible with activities that we could do even though no cars were allowed to move on the streets and all the of places we had planned to go were shut down. We still ended up with a great visit and we really got to see so many wonderful parts of Peru thanks to all of the help from Mark’s team—thank you!

Our trip was amazing! We saw and did a lot of things in Bolivia and Peru—from visiting the salt flats, checking out a silver mine, boating on Lake Titicaca, visiting cathedrals and museums, eating delicious foods, and meeting wonderful people. We were delighted from start to finish with the exceptional advice and service of Marisol’s crew.

Upon our late evening arrival in Bolivia, there was a strike set to happen in Santa Cruz, so Mark, our trip planner, put us in a hotel near the airport and put us on an early morning flight out of Santa Cruz for our safety. While we missed two days in Santa Cruz, we had two extra days in Sucre, which was probably our favorite city. We really appreciate the attention to detail and concern of Mark.

A big thank you to Wendy for our WOW Moment. The unobstructed expanse of the isolated salt flats make star-gazing on the Salar a truly spellbinding experience, as the full breadth and immensity of the night sky can be observed and appreciated with the telescope provided or with the naked eye. Located at altitude with almost no light pollution thanks to a sparse population, the Salar de Uyuni is one of the best places to stargaze in South America.

Every guide we had was outstanding! We thoroughly enjoyed every moment. We definitely and highly recommend Mark from Marisol’s team to anyone who wants to visit Bolivia/Peru.

Our trip to Peru exceeded our expectations. From Lima to the Tambopata Reserve in the Amazon…from Arequipa to Colca Canyon…from Cusco to the Sacred Valley…and last, but far from least, to Machu Picchu…we were spellbound by the warmth of the Peruvians and the beauty and diversity of the terrain and climates throughout the country.

Traveling to Peru for three weeks in September was ideal. The weather was cool and comfortable, even in the Amazon (which was an unexpected bonus). We didn’t encounter unmanageable crowds anywhere…in fact, we were pleasantly surprised by the tourism levels, even at Machu Picchu and in Cusco. Peru’s Covid protocol regarding mask-wearing was in place throughout our trip, with which we happily obliged. The majority of our activities were outdoors, so we were grateful and relieved that our health risks were minimized.

We are thrilled that we worked with Marisol and her team to plan this fantastic trip. There just aren’t enough superlatives to describe the quality of service provided by the team. From my initial discussions with Marisol and Mark to our final farewell from Raul at the Lima airport, we felt comfortable and well cared for, every step of the way.

Mark provided top-notch service throughout the entire planning process. From day one, working with him was a joy. He crafted an itinerary that was perfectly matched with our interests and allowed for acclimatization as we journeyed from sea level up to varying elevations (resulting in no altitude sickness!). I was incredibly pleased with his guidance, candid feedback, recommendations, attention to detail, and expertise.

Gonzalo and Yasmin provided excellent customer service while we were in country. They were really put to the test when the lack of functional landing lights at the Arequipa airport forced our plane to turn around and return to Lima. As our fellow passengers struggled to figure out alternative arrangements, we were comforted by the fact that Marisol’s team would be on top of the situation. Upon landing in Lima, we received all of the revised plans via WhatsApp, and Malena comforted us with hugs as we exited the terminal. We really couldn’t have asked for better support, as everyone met the challenge and made fantastic, alternative arrangements for us. We were immensely grateful that we had that team in our corner.

The logistics throughout our trip were handled seamlessly, with greeters and drivers always at the ready with warm smiles and kind words. The luxury boutique hotels were exactly in keeping with our preferences and showcased lovely settings, beautiful architecture, unique decor, and incredible service. Our guides had infinite patience and shared vast amounts of knowledge. Their flexibility and adaptability were greatly appreciated. Of particular note, Abelardo was keenly aware of my husband’s concerns about climbing Huayna Picchu. Abe’s encouragement and support made such a positive impact, helping us meet our goal of reaching the top. Huge success!

Our trip featured so many memorable moments…more than I can possibly capture right now. A definite highlight was our day spent exploring the “real” Sacred Valley. The time spent with Maria and her family was priceless. From dancing with her parents to walking the Andean hills with her llama…from a spiritual ceremony giving thanks to, and toasting, the gods, to plowing the field with bulls…from sharing a lovely lunch made from locally-produced ingredients to an in-depth demonstration of their textile artistry…we felt humbled and honored to have been offered a glimpse into their daily lives.

Another highlight was our WOW Moment in Ollantaytambo. On an organic farm, we learned the traditional Inca cooking technique of pachamanca and savored the delicious alfresco lunch while admiring the breathtaking views of the snow-capped peaks of Mount Veronica. Thank you Wendy for a delightful experience!

We are immensely grateful for all that we experienced and absolutely loved our time exploring so many wonderful facets of Peru. We owe a huge “thank you” to the Aracari team for helping us create such impactful memories and exceeding our expectations.

How many different ways can you say the word “amazing”??? Marisol’s office of experts were the sum of all the ways it can be expressed. Our trip to Peru was postponed from 2020 until now (9/1-9/12). In that time Mark was responsive and caring no matter how small or “in the weeds” my questions and concerns were. All of my check boxes were fulfilled to make this a dream trip come true. We were looked after and felt safe both before and during our trip related to Covid protocols and in every other sense. The staff went above and beyond. One example is upon landing in Lima our first day. A representative from Marisol’s team went out at 11pm at night and found and DELIVERED a new knee brace to our hotel as the one my husband packed had been “misplaced” by the airline. We had an early flight in the morning so this was nothing short of miraculous. Without this brace my husband may not have been able to explore Machu Picchu or the other sites planned. Because of the almost immediate responses of the team, we were able to tweak our itinerary on the fly when the need arose (like when we got a stomach bug). It would not have been the same trip without the magic of Marisol’s on-the-ground and planning crews. They are all worth their weight in gold! OH How could I forget! Our WOW Moment was a tour of the “real” Lima with a local guide. We got the scoop of the good, the bad, and the ugly related to the nuances of life in Lima—not just the tourist façade view of things. The fabulously in-depth tour was capped off with a visit to the CIRCUITO MÁGICO DEL AGUA—a light/laser/fountain show in Lima. The projection show story was the perfect synopsis of all of the history we had learned that day in addition to being beautifully magical! We even convinced our guide to run through the water tunnel with us where we all got drenched! A good laugh is a good laugh in any language! My ONLY complaint is that we could not take all of our guides home with us! : )

PANDEMIC TRAVEL Mark Green put together what proved to be an incredible time. Mark reached out promptly following initial contact, listened very clearly to our interests focusing primarily on food and hiking, and tailored a trip, spent largely in the Sacred Valley and Cusco, that aligned nearly perfectly with our family’s goals. Mark guided us on choosing appropriate activities, lodgings and dining. He presented options, offered pros/cons, and after getting to know us, made ideal suggestions. He steered us from crowds and minimized risks of altitude and COVID illness. Mark took care of all the details, including booking connecting flight and train tickets, coordinating complicated Machu Picchu arrangements, managing high-end restaurant reservations, ensuring hotel rooms included connecting rooms, and setting up all ground activities. He also advised all establishments of food preferences and allergies that proved very helpful. After arrangements were made, Mark’s office provided detailed itinerary information in communication including a useful phone app that was quite helpful during our trip. Costs were clear and understandable. Lastly, prior to arrival, Mark coordinated a group communication thread with folks on the ground to make sure we were all on the same page.

Once on the ground, things were seamless. Delayed international arrival? No worries, Mark’s staff changed connecting flights to ensure we didn’t miss flights. He had a representative at each airport arrival and departure to ensure smooth transitions. Hotels and restaurants expected us, knew our names and likes. Prearranged lunches were some of the best we’ve eaten, wrapped and labeled almost like birthday presents. Activities included things we never could have arranged on our own. Daughter hiking in hand with an alpaca, helping plow a field at 12,000 ft in traditional garb with no other tourists in sight, ceremonial offering followed by picnic snack with traditional food with locals. Hiking at 15,000 ft followed by another picnic lunch, creekside, in the sun, slight breeze, with arguably the best boxed lunch ever, when alpacas start meandering in the area. Early morning start, train ride toward Machu Picchu, getting off train early for 8 miles on the Incan Trail while our bags head on the train to the hotel, all permits and tickets and arrangements made. What could have felt contrived or cliche felt authentic and real. We didn’t feel like we were imposing, we didn’t feel guilty; we just felt like we could relax and experience.

While Mark’s office created a framework for a great trip, it was primarily our guide Joaquin that made it truly remarkable. Joaquin was an incredibly knowledgeable, friendly and reassuring presence. Always prepared and on time, Joaquin kept things organized and moving, while affording us flexibility, time and fun. He would give us the Quechuan name for a plant, followed by its Spanish name, then its Latin name. He knew all the birds, all the constellations. He pointed out details on hikes and drives that played on our interests. He knew of well more than Incan history, and would often connect things to relatable American and Indian themes. He dropped a Tupac Shakur reference. He advocated for us with vendors, supported our kids in hiking endeavors, tuned the radio to stations we would enjoy. Joaquin seemed genuinely interested in sharing his passion for Peruvian and Incan history with us while also taking the time to really get to know us and share some of his personal history as well. Around others, it was abundantly clear that Joaquin was on another level when it comes to guides–in more popular places we had people eavesdropping or asking him for significant advice.

In Lima, Mark set us up with another guide, more of food guide, that brought us to a fascinating market, a great gelato shop and then to a local restaurant, one we’d never heard of and would not have gone to, where we arguably had the best meal we ate in Peru–trying this and that including the best ceviche ever.

Only things in trip I would change would have been perhaps a little less scheduled so as to have some more time to enjoy the wonderful hotels and relax just a bit more.

From the very first moment we began planning our trip to Peru with Marisol’s team to the very last moment they walked us to security at the Lima airport to bid us farewell, our trip was exceptional. Mark Green did a fantastic job of planning ur itinerary based on our interests. The hotels were incredible and we enjoyed immensely each day’s schedule and activities, This trip was beyond our expectations and I highly recommend it. A big thank you to our guide and driver, Juan and Loriano, who were with us from the Sacred Valley, Cusco and Machu Picchu. They were professional, attentive and a delight to share our time with, we also enjoyed Jorge while in Lima. This is our second Wendy Perrin trip and we look forward to our next one with great anticipation. Thank you to all!

I had the pleasure of working with Mark Green to arrange our trip to Bolivia. We wanted to see the main landscape highlights in the Eduardo Avaroa National Reserve, experience the wonders of the Uyuni Salt Flats and have enjoy the urban environment of La Paz at the end of our trip. Mark crafted an itinerary that reflected our interests and that was no too long or strenuous given the challenges that high altitudes in those areas can pose. He was always a delight to talk to and promptly available on email or phone to answer any questions in great detail. Because we were transferring to Bolivia from the Atacama Desert where we had made our own arrangements, it gave us peace of mind to know that we had a reliable land transfer who helped us negotiate the paperwork of exiting Chile and entering Bolivia, and who handed us over to the Bolivian guide and driver.

Over the next three days, we savored the otherworldly landscapes of the high altitude colored lagoons, the Dali Desert, and ultimately the Salar de Uyuni with its surreal hexagon formations. We also requested to see some ancient rock art pictographs and mummies, which can be seen in situ in a cave near the Thunupa volcano, and which added to our extensive list of “firsts” that we experienced in both the Bolivian and Chilean Altiplano. However, we did not warm up to the Bolivian guide, and found her to be junior, inexperienced and unfocused, as well as unable to deliver a more sophisticated experience that we were anticipating, given the high price tag of this trip. The vehicle was also a bit of a let-down: for the price we paid, we were expecting a larger, more comfortable vehicle in better repair. The seatbelt in the passenger seat behind the driver was not working, and even though we pointed this out to them right away, no one did anything about it, so for the entire trip, my husband rode in the car without a seatbelt, While there is not a lot of traffic in the desert, it could have posed a safety issue, especially once we were in towns on busier routes. We also found it bizarre that the guide kept taking pictures of everything, including before and after pictures of our meals for the agency. When we asked if this was for Marisol’s company, she said no, for her own agency, because she has no direct contact with Marisol’s company. She also asked us for copies of our passports once we got to Uyuni, which I refused to give her and told her that Mark has copies of our passports. I have never encountered this level of monitoring on any trip, and it was as unnerving as it was bizarre. When I asked Mark about what the guide was up to, he had no explanation for this strange behavior.

Thankfully the guide in La Paz was everything that we had hoped for, She was very pleasant, professional, well informed and detail-oriented. Amara was able to stay in the moment with us and adapt the sightseeing to our interests and needs on-the-go, and infuse our time with her with fun as well as magic. She and the driver, Don Guido, made us feel relaxed and very well taken care of. We thoroughly enjoyed Amaras company and everything she showed us and told us about in her quiet manner, both history and fascinating facts. The insider experience that Marisol and Mark orchestrated for us was definitely a highlight of our visit to La Paz, our private meeting with Bolivias most revered visual artists, Gaston Ugalde, at his Salar gallery, which concluded our trip on a high note.

Response from Wendy

I asked Marisol about the issues that Ileana described in Bolivia, and here’s the upshot: First, regarding the vehicle: It was a type of 4X4 vehicle that is commonly used in Bolivia, as it is suited to cope with the roads and exposure to salty conditions. The vehicle had recently passed inspection. The seatbelt issue arose en route. Although the driver attempted to fix the seatbelt, he was unable to complete the repair until arrival back in Uyuni. Second, regarding the passport: When the guide requested Ileana’s passport, it was actually for the hotel. Hotels in Bolivia are required, by law, to obtain copies of each guest’s passport and visa entry stamp. Although Marisol’s company had Ileana’s passport on file, it did not have a copy of her visa stamp until the day of her arrival. As for the guide taking photos, Marisol apologizes and says that this represents “an unacceptable lack of discretion.” As a result of Ileana’s feedback, action has been taken, and Marisol’s company will no longer be working with that guide. Thank you, Ileana, for sharing such important feedback that has already helped your fellow travelers.

My husband and I recently returned from our incredible trip to Peru. Marisol and her team did a wonderful job helping us prepare for our 10 year wedding anniversary. I enjoyed the planning process and was happy to be thoroughly involved so that Marisol would understand our wishes. I was able to voice my opinions on activities and restaurants, but I left the transportation details to the pros(just as I had hoped).

I was quite impressed upon our arrival. The itinerary printed for us was beautifully bound, and included historical information about the sites we would see. We were also treated with small gifts!

By far, our favorite experience was on the afternoon of our anniversary. We were told we would enjoy a picnic lunch. My husband and I were content with the idea of a simple lunch knowing that for dinner we had planned a private dinner in the wine cellar of our hotel. When we arrived to our picnic, we were amazed to see that a canopy tent was popped up in a field that overlooked the Andes. The table was tastefully decorated with linens, lace, fresh flowers and local decor pieces. Wow! We had a 3 man cooking team that prepared a lovely, warm 4 course meal in a separate tent while we we sipped on wine. There was even a portable toilet in a third small tent for us to utilize! Again, nothing was overlooked! I was on the verge of tears, and just filled with so much gratitude. Mind you this event occurred on day 3 or 4 of a 10 day trip. So we still had much more to look forward to.

No detail was left unturned. From the beautiful accommodations to the our awesome guide, Ruben, to the snacks in the vehicle. We would not hesitate to recommend Marisol’s group to anyone. They made us feel safe, and they took excellent care of us.

Frankly, your travel planners and guides exceed our expectations!

I had a medical issue with my knee when we arrived in Lima – they quickly helped get me the finest care available in Lima.
The accommodations were exactly what we were looking for especially our interest in music in Cusco – our hotel had live music 4 nights a week, someone truly listened during our planning conversations.

Our guides were patient and adaptable to our evolving situation – from simple stuff like providing walking sticks for Machu Picchu or arranging for an individual guide because of my knee while in the Amazon.

I think my biggest take-away was I wish I would have followed our planner, Mark Green’s, suggestion to spend more time in Lima.
Everything about Marisol’s team was outstanding!

Thank you for helping us with this fantastic experience!

Mark Green did a really good job of preparing an itinerary for my wife and me. We are foodies, and he incorporated a special lunch, cooking class and food tour, in addition to scheduling all of our meals. His guides and drivers were excellent, and they were able to adjust our schedule on the fly as we asked for changes. When my wife bought earrings at a store, and then realized the posts were not correct, Javier went back to the store which was closed, but went to another vendor to correct the problem at no cost to us. We did hiking (Fortress and Machu Pichu), sightseeing and wonderful food experiences. A great vacation

Marisol is exactly the type of travel specialist our family loves to work with… Their guides and staff are thoughtful, generous, intelligent, and caring. They specialized the trip well to a family with teenage girls… Activities were off the beaten track, unique, and fun! We went hiking with a local village woman and her four llamas in the Sacred Valley… We had a picnic at a Vista point overlooking the sacred valley where chefs prepared traditional Peruvian foods. Both were amazing! They were referred to us by the travel specialist we used in Thailand, Daniel Fraser, also on your list… Also fantastic! Thank you…

The trip for my 31-year-old daughter and me was arranged by Mark Green at Marisol Mosquera’s agency, and it was wonderful. Everything ran very smoothly in terms of representatives of the agency and guides meeting us and taking care of us. The guides were great, especially our guide Javier in the Sacred Valley, Machu Picchu, and Cuzco. Machu Picchu was the top experience. I have a very bad knee (I’m getting a knee replacement next week) but with the help and encouragement of Javier and my daughter, and a walking pole arranged by Mark, I was able to do much more there than I would have expected. We climbed really high and then took a hike that involved even more climbing. We also loved the 48-hour Andean Explorer train, which took us to Lake Titicaca. We hadn’t even heard of the train but Mark suggested it. We liked Lima, which we had heard was gray and gritty, maybe because of our guide, and Arequipa, even though we had never heard of it before. The hotels were all really good, except for the one in Arequipa, but there was not much choice there. We liked Colca Canyon, which we also had never heard of before this trip. It was a very full and interesting itinerary for just 11 days, but that was right for us.

The trip to Peru was wonderful. Mark Green on Marisol’s team was very responsive to all of my questions and accommodated all of our desires for the trip- for the most part. The tour guides, drivers and specialty providers that hosted us in Peru were excellent. They are culinary journey specialists. Highly recommend!

This was the first trip for which we used a travel agency, and our experience could not have been better. Marisol and her team helped us with our 14 day trip through Peru, and everything from the places we saw to the hotels we stayed in, our expert guides, and all the travel logistics far exceeded any of our expectations. The trip was absolutely amazing! We would recommend them to anyone looking for a phenomenal trip to Peru.

The guides, 3, were all so different and perfect in their specialty. Guides were a highlight of our trip. I am pretty sure we were upgraded at the hotel in Cusco because of Marisol and her team. Vehicles were clean with snacks and water and excellent drivers. Everything went smoothly with no problems.

Our trip experience was excellent. Marisol was a terrific partner to work with. When we were hiking into Machu Picchu, our guide got sick. He did not communicate well with us, so we ended up hiking the whole day into Machu Picchu without him. When we arrived there, we contacted Marisol and she immediately figured things out. She was terrific. I would work with her again and again.

We had an amazing, outstanding trip from start to finish! We did Lima, Sacred Valley, Machu Picchu, Cusco, Hiram Bingham Luxury train, Lake Titicaca, Colca Valley and Arequipa.

All of our questions were answered and all of our requests organized promptly. The suggestions, organized tours and hotels were the best! Our guides were terrific and enjoyable to spend time with.

EVERYTHING ran smoothly and nothing was overlooked….no small feat for a 16 day tour for 4 people!

We had a wonderful time and felt very well cared for by Marisol and her team. The itinerary and accommodations were excellent, particularly Hotel B and Inkaterra. We ended up taking an earlier train from Machu Picchu back to Cusco as once we finished our morning hike there wasn’t a lot to do in Machu Picchu city. Fernando and Hugo were particularly wonderful and we very much enjoyed our time with them.

Mark on Marisol’s team planned such an amazing trip for us and our daughters- he was always responsive to our needs and questions and I would definitely recommend using Marisol and her team!

I confess I had a complicated wish list — start in the Atacama (Chile), spend time on the Salar de Uyuni (Bolivia) and end in the Galapagos (Ecuador). Fortunately, Marisol and Mark Green on her team were up to the planning task. They accommodated every request — including finding a star-gazing experience on the Atacama during the almost full moon (hard to come by) and setting up a three-day stay in an Airstream parked in the middle of the Salar de Uyuni. The “in-betweens” were mini-adventure unto themselves. From the Atacama to the salt flats, we drove through the Andes with stops to walk in a geyser field and see the Red Lagoon. So too, Bolivia to Galapagos leg allowed for time to see La Paz and Quito and learn a bit more about the history and culture of both Bolivia and Ecuador. All of our guides were terrific — knowledgeable and accommodating us if we had requests that were different from our planned itinerary. The M/Y Grace in the Galapagos provided the perfect ending to a well-planned trip. Marisol and her team definitely delivered an adventure where we could focus on the beauty and wonder around us. Simply put, it was amazing.

Marisol was very accommodating to our group and all of our individual needs, patiently creating three separate itineraries for us with enough overlap to make us feel like we were on a memorable trip together. We’d like to give a special shout out to Adriana, our intrepid guide to Machu Picchu who was able to charm our entire group, with ages ranging from 3 to 73!

We truly had a wonderful Peru experience. The range of activities, environments, and experiences was remarkable. We spent time in the Sacred Valley, Machu Picchu, a few days hiking the Andes (starting at 14,000 feet and ascending to almost 17,000), and finishing it off with a perfect Amazon cruise experience on the Delfin. All connections, guides, facilities, and food were great. We are so glad we used an in-country travel agent. The expertise was invaluable in light of the fact we had two families traveling for part of the time together, part of the time apart, and for part of the time, adult children having yet a third itinerary. Pleasing two families with ages 17–63 is an art, and we appreciated Marisol’s advice. We didn’t have any issues for her team to “fix” but were pleasantly surprised to have not just a car and driver, but the use of a guide and on-the-fly help with dinner reservations while hanging out in Lima before our overnight flight home.

Marisol and her staff planned a fabulous trip that was so luxurious and authentic. We had a small budget but they still seemed to make everything first class. The staff is incredibly welcoming and accommodating. The hotels we stayed at were so unique and the experiences unforgettable! I will NEVER travel outside of the US without a service like this again!

Everything was great and helped at every stage. Wonderful trip

Every aspect of our vacation was planned flawlessly. Mark Green, on Marisol’s team, coordinated trains, guides, hotels, restaurant reservations…all so I had a stress-free vacation. We spent a day with Chef Penelope in Lima, visiting the market, drinking Pisco Sours and cooking in her beautiful home overlooking the water. Truly a memorable experience which my entire family loved. We then flew to Cusco and Fernando was our guide for five days of exploring the Sacred Valley, Machu Pichu, and Cusco. I cannot recommend Fernando more highly. He was so knowledgeable, engaging, flexible and personable. He was able to arrange a doctor visit to our hotel at night when one member of my family was sick. Our driver Hugo kept our car spotless and there always was a supply of water and snacks. I’m looking forward to returning to Peru to visit other parts of the country, and I definitely will be using Marisol and Mark again!

It was a masterfully planned trip, everything was excellent including the small details. I fully recommend them.

My wife and I went to Peru in October, 2016. Since I have a disability due to multiple sclerosis (using a wheelchair often), I needed this trip planned to the 9s by experts extremely familiar with the terrain, streets, hotels, etc. It was. We worked around challenges and the trip turned out to be fantastic. Highly recommended. Thanks for the recommendation, Wendy!

My husband and I traveled in Peru for 2 weeks. We had a wonderful time on our trip which was planned by Marisol and her team. Everyone was extremely attentive and helpful at all stages. My husband and I have numerous calls with our agent Mark Green during the planning. Mark made sure that our concerns were addressed and our suggestions were considered and incorporated in our itinerary. Raul warmly welcomed us at the Lima airport upon our arrival. From that moment on, we were well taken care of by guides and drivers at various locations. We spent an educational and fun day with Ronald in Lima. Ronald’s knowledge about the architects in Lima is incomparable. We were so grateful to have Leo as our guide in Sacred Valley, Macchu Pichu, and Cusco. His love of the country, Cusco region, nature, and the culture is contagious. We loved our stay at the Suasi Island. In Mancora, we stayed at K! Chic (best boutique hotel), recommended by Marisol’s team. We could not have done the trip with such thoughtful planning. At the end of the trip, there was a little hiccup with the hotel in Lima, but Marisol’s representatives immediately took action to ensure my last day in Lima was taken care of.

Overall, we would not hesitate to recommend Marisol and her team to anyone who wants to visit Peru!

Marisol and her team were terrific from beginning to end. Marisol immediately replied to my inquiry—within hours, if I remember correctly. We then set up a Skype call, which was phenomenally helpful. She asked me tons of questions about my preferences, the group I was traveling with, and gave me incredibly helpful and honest feedback about what was doable—and pushed me to do things I hadn’t considered. For example, this was a special trip for my niece just graduating from high school—about to study marine biology in college—so Marisol steered me toward the right Amazon basin area I hadn’t even considered. Truthfully, I was a little worried about her passing off her notes to a colleague, but it turned out flawless, seamless, and Mark Green was tremendous. He answered all of my questions, made adjustments so quickly as needed, kept me advised the entire way. The materials they delivered were superior—and then waiting for us on arrival.

My husband, niece, and I just returned yesterday from Peru and wanted to send a HUGE GRACIAS to everyone for making this trip one of a lifetime! Everything ran so smoothly from beginning to end—and there’s no way I ever could have constructed such a wonderful journey. For sure, it was packed, but we came back feeling we’d seen such a diversity in Peru and, truthfully, we look forward to coming back and exploring more. The entire team deserves our appreciation. They knew just how to counsel us and talk us through what would work for us, given our interests and time constraints. It ended up being a perfect balance of wildlife, culture, adventure and a bit of relaxation. And although the weather was terrible during our one-day Inka Trail hike, with rain & clouds obscuring Machu Picchu from the Sun Gate, we still wouldn’t change a thing.  What a true adventure. I can’t thank them enough. And I will of course recommend and tell everyone I know to use them—and to once again trust a Wendy Perrin specialist.

Over the years, I have used and vetted many of Wendy’s travel specialists— and, no doubt, Marisol and her group are absolutely top of the list.

Marisol was fabulous. Seamless transfers, great tour guides, great restaurant and hotel choices.

We have traveled with Marisol’s team twice (once to Machu Picchu / Cusco and the Amazon and a second time to the Galapagos) both times were amazing! They deserve their excellent reputation! I had a child get sick in Cusco and they whisked us to a hospital and also had a doctor waiting for us in Iquitos as well as on the boat in the middle of the Amazon to check on our child! They escorted us to every flight and hotel. Our hotels and guides were spectacular- and they personalized each itinerary for our family of six (which is not easy with 4 children!)… and everyone loved it! You will be thrilled that you booked with them- truly best of the best!

I made arrangements for travel from Lima to the Cusco area for 3 days—a quick trip, but I wanted to see Machu Picchu while I was in Peru. All arrangements were handled by Marisol’s team and the trip went flawlessly. At first I was a little surprised by the cost, but reality set in and I came to terms with the cost of traveling solo. That being said, I was extremely pleased with the itinerary prepared for me, and with my guide and driver. It was like visiting the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu with a friend. I wasn’t trapped in a large tour group; we could go where we wanted and vary the itinerary as I desired. Also, I learned so much from my guide about the history and culture of the area. It was the best decision I made to use this Travel Expert. It was a very memorable trip.

Peru was on our “bucket list” and we naturally looked for the person recommended by Wendy Perrin to plan our adventure.  Marisol Mosquera and her associates, fulfilled all of our expectations, and MORE.  Most of our pre-trip planning was completed in detail by Cecile Febre.  She listened to our wishes, followed through immediately, was totally available through email or telephone, and created a wonderful and diverse itinerary.  On landing in Lima, Giovanna Barnuevo became our contact person, and she was AMAZING!  Our guides were terrific, so well versed in their localities and in Peru in general.  Each guide had excellent English and really made us feel at home in their city or area.  I had thought to cruise the Amazon on the Aria, but Cecile convinced us the Deflin I was the way to go, and she was totally correct.  This four cabin floating guest house had a top notch guide/naturalist in Sandro and the most amazing food you would taste anywhere in the world, let alone the Amazon River!  Each of the lodges, hotels, where we stayed were lovingly chosen based on our input, and each was better than the last.  On reaching Arequipa my husband became ill.  The guide and hotel sought medical support and we continued on to the Colca Canyon and Lake Titicaca.  After only one of our scheduled four nights at this beautiful lake, it became apparent my husband was too ill to stay there.  By the next morning Giovanna had arranged for a guide, a driver to transport us to Juliaca, and a flight to Cusco, where we hoped my husband could rest and restore his health to complete our itinerary.  The doctor was called to the beautiful Belmond Palacio Nazarenes, my husband was transported to the local clinic, and upon hearing he was so ill that they wanted to keep him overnight, we determined to return to the United States.  Again, Marisol’s group did everything possible to support us in this decision and facilitate our early departure, even though this undoubtedly caused them extra work in canceling lodging and guides.  When we are able to complete our itinerary, at some future date, we will return to Marisol and her team for there can be no better travel specialists to fulfill our dreams to see the rest of Peru, including Machu Picchu.  We will look forward to having the engaging and helpful Raul meet us on landing!  We recommend you contact Marisol, for Peru is a beautiful country with a rich history, tempting cuisine, and beautiful people.  Way to go, Marisol!!!  Thank You for everything.