I have never posted on a public forum such as this but since this forum helped me find a tour operator in Peru that I consider myself very fortunate to have chosen, I feel compelled to write in the hope that others will also benefit. My husband and I just got back from a truly wonderful 5-day trip to Cuzco, the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu. Needless to say, the entire region is breathtaking, and regardless of how much you’ve read and pictures you’ve seen in anticipation of your trip, nothing prepares you for its sheer beauty. What made the trip more memorable for us was the outstanding service we got from Vidal and his tour company, Adios Adventure Travel, formerly called Adventure Holidays Peru (www.adventureholidaysperu.com). We were looking for a small local company, preferring a private tour or small group and AAT seemed to fit the bill. Besides, I had read several laudatory accounts of Vidal and his group on this forum, which prompted me to pursue those recommendations.

Vidal and his team exceeded our expectations. What I will never understand is how he put up with us for all those days! He accompanied us everywhere and not once did he seem intrusive. Very unassuming and proud of his Quechua lineage, he is a storehouse of information of not only local culture, history and customs but also of local flora and fauna, which I found truly amazing. He also has a great eye for photography.

I had been communicating with Vidal for a few months before the trip and found him very prompt, patient and professional despite his absences from Cuzco when he was out on the trail with other clients. Other than our international flights, we opted to make all arrangements for our stay in Peru through Vidal. He was our guide from the time he received us at the Cuzco airport till he saw us off 5 days later. He gathered very quickly what kind of travelers we were and our preferences, and built an itinerary to match them. This flexibility, a charming and intelligent personality, a great sense of humor, an ability to put you at ease almost immediately – all make him a terrific guide and a wonderful human being. In short, he was a great companion, treated us like guests, and I left feeling I had made a friend in Peru.

I have to mention a few other aspects, too – both Encantada (in Cuzco) and El Sauce (in Ollantaytambo), which Vidal suggests for boarding – are wonderful places. Small, cozy, great views and excellent service. The restaurant A Mi Manera that Vidal took us to for lunch the day we arrived in Cuzco, is excellent – nothing fancy but good, simple, wholesome, flavorful Peruvian food accompanied by outstanding service. We liked it so much, we did a takeout from there our final night (actually Vidal offered to call our order in as we drove back to Cuzco from Ollantaytambo); it was after 10 p.m. and the restaurant not only delivered the food to Encantada and but also set the table for us and served the food warm. It was like having A Mi Manera right in Encantada! I’m sure it helped that both the restaurant and the hotel are owned by the same person, Marco, a delightful individual. Still, we felt pampered.

A word about a couple of others associated with AAT that we interacted with: one of them is Jacquie Whitt who’s based in Virginia Beach, VA (her contact details and brief bio appear on AAT’s “About Us” page). She became my local contact and, sometimes, my conduit to reach Vidal – she was patient and very willing to help answer even the dumbest question I had. Chats with her helped reinforce what I’d read on AAT’s website and comments on this forum, and ultimately, made it an easy decision to choose AAT. Then there is Joaquim who drove us around in Cuzco and the Sacred Valley – very courteous and patient, an excellent driver. We also had the pleasure of having the company of Jefferson on a couple of trips – I understand he’s usually on the Inca trail, which we didn’t do (we took the train and bus to MP). It was a luxury having 2 guides – Vidal and Jefferson.

All in all, it was a terrific experience and we highly recommend Vidal and his company.

Usha

Sounds wonderful.We are looking into going to MP in April.
We would like to do the 2 day hike tho.
What were the costs of your trip,if you don't mind sharing.
Thanks,
CCF

We just came back from a 16 day tour of Peru with Adios Adventure Travel and they absolutely exceeded our expectations, too!

From start to finish, they were fantastic. Everything was covered - accommodations, tickets, transport, even collections from bus stations to hotels, so we never had to lift a finger (or get lost in a foreign city!). The guides were knowledgeable and charming, the accommodations were beautiful, and the whole trip was perfect. Our guide even had us at Machu Picchu when there seemed to be no one else there, which was a real treat.

I would highly recommend them to anyone travelling through South America, because not only is the service fantastic, but their prices and flexibility around dates is far, far better than any of the big international groups. Keep the money local!

Cheers, Emily

Thanks for this post, I am just starting to plan for our May 2012 trip to MP and this company sounds exactly like what we are looking for (an intimate, local company). I will be contacting them shortly!

Well JBX they removed Benarlo's post but you included his link in your reply! Maybe we'd like to remove that one too?

Another local company that is well regarded especially if you want to go off the beaten trail is Peru For Less, they do customized trips as well as packages.

http://www.peruforless.com/

Watsonmom ... we also used Adios Adventure Travel ... though their name was different back then ... here's a link to my blog if you're interested ... http://2totravelperu.blogspot.com/20...rm-valley.html.

Just as an update I did send an inquiry to Jacquie and she responded nearly immediately (and on a Sunday morning as well).She has been really helpful in getting us ready to book our trip for May 2012. I would not have reservations booking with her (include the caveat that we always get trip insurance within 10 days of the initial booking which usually covers any type of default). Thanks for the tips!