by Amy Lau on May 9th, 2012

My sister and I joined Karikuy's 9 day "Southern Circult Tour" end of April 2012. The itinerary was so nicely planned and Julio is always quick in responding to our enquiries. We have seen (and enjoyed) a lot in our tour. We had once worried about having altitude sickness in Puno and Cuzco but the itinerary allowed us sufficient acclimatization. We virtually had no altitude problem and had a really really great time, particularly in climbing up the Wayna Picchu to overlook the stunning Macchu Picchu!!!! Thanks Karikuy for pre-ordering the very limited tickets to Wayna Picchu for us! :)

We were always given good care during transfers between airport, bus stations and hotels. All tickets required (for local tours, bus tours and excursions) in every cities we visited they were always ready for us once we arrived.

THANKS Karikuy, Julio and all local guides!!! :)

by Roop Gill on April 30th, 2012

We went to the Cortes Maltes resort in Puerto Maldonado with Karikuy. Before we made our way to Peru, I did some research and found some great information about Karikuy. Julio was very helpful throughout the booking process and it's just too bad we didn't get to meet him during our trip.

We had a great time in the Amazon (minus the fact that we were sick, but that's our own fault). The food at the resort was excellent! Especially since I am vegetarian, I was very happy to see that the kitchen prepared delicious and different meals for me the 4 days we were there. Amazon is beautiful and I would recommend that you definitely visit it.

by Conchita Hidalgo on April 23rd, 2012

This is a vacation that we call it an expedition or adventure, learning lots of things not from books but we were there myself to experience life in another part of the world. Macchu Picchu is its climactic part of our trip, although I struggled to climb Machu Picchu but happy to see we were up there and knowing a lot of its historical facts.

We take this chance to thank Karikuy, especially Julio and the rest of the team for making this happen without much trouble. There are surely other great highlights of our trips. We could not imagine ourselves sand boarding in the dunes of Ica that we never did in our life; climbing a much higher elevation in Puno, the Taquile island at Lake Titicaca. We were gasping for breath but it is worth the experience ... THANK YOU, KARIKUY, THANK YOU, JULIO, making it happen ... Go Karikuy, Go !!! More success !!!

by Shankar Balakrishnan on April 5th, 2012

We had a wonderful trip and will be back in a heartbeat. The service was outstanding, people were friendly, polite and we enjoyed every moment of our stay. The hike was a real challenge and the tour guides helped us get through every hurdle. We would like to specially thank Oscar, and Cusco city tour guide Roni for having made our stay in Cusco memorable. The El Balcon Hostel at Cusco was a very good choice as it was centrally located and close to all the sites.

Thank you again for making our trip a success. We will definitely contact you when we plan our next trip to Peru and would be happy to recommend you to all our friends.

-Shankar & Sonal from Washington DC, USA

by Richard Weil on March 5th, 2012

Julio and his team of guides made our trip to Peru amazing. We had a very tight schedule and he arranged the perfect itinerary and took care of everything. My daughter and I will forever remember our trip thanks to Karikuy.

by Kevin Fitzpatrick on March 4th, 2012

My son and I recently had a very memorable trip to Cuzco, the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu arranged through Karikuy. It's a leap of faith to book online however the team at Karikuy were a tremendous choice. They are highly organized, punctual and professional. I would not have the slightest hesitation in booking future trips with this team.

by Agnieszka on February 28th, 2012

I was travelling on my own and was really worried about the 2 day trip I had booked with Karikuy, but it exceeded my expectations. guides were very knowledgeable, spoke good english and were very attentive. Transfers from one place to another were very well organized, and the staff always made sure we got safe to our destinations and met us everyday to tell us about the next days schedule. I would recommend Karikuy to everyone who travels around Peru, very reliable and caring. Thank you!!

by Lisa Gervais on February 21st, 2012

The best of both worlds: Tailored service and group experiences

Visiting Peru with the help of Karikuy Tours was the best decision I made. Julio was very personable, professional and accomodating. He really cared that I had the most enjoyable experience while visiting his country. The itinerary was exactly what I wanted, a combination of some days on my own and other days spent in organized group activities. The accomodations were excellent and the group tours and 4-day Inca Trail hike were amazing.

The Karikuy staff were reliable, culturally and historically knowledgeable and had the best local recommendations. It was also important to me that my tourism dollars went directly into the local economy and not some foreign-owned operator. Without a doubt I would recommend Karikuy Tours and will visit Peru again with them.

-Lisa Gervais, Toronto Canada

by Jane Ebert and Alan Mitchell on February 10th, 2012

by Jordan Clay on February 6th, 2012

Karikuy provided conscientious and professional service during our trip to Peru.

by Laura Hilliger on January 23rd, 2012

Our time in the jungle and then hiking the Inca Trail is on the list of best experiences EVER. Karikuy helped us book an unforgettable experience that rivals any other vacation we've ever had. Great guides, great food, great fun. THANKS!

by Michael Schoenfeld on January 17th, 2012

We wanted to travel to Peru and weren't sure who to book the trip through. After a little googleing we saw Karikuy. The trip was planned great - we even went back and forth and made changes and Julio was extremely fast to respond with the changes in itinerary and prices. When we got there everything was taken care of, there were even people there to pick us up at the airport every time! I will recommend Karikuy to anyone I know traveling to Peru!

by Rachel Illig on January 9th, 2012

This experience was unbelievable. I did things that I never thought I would get to do and I met people that I will never forget. The opportunity would have never been available if it wasn't for Karikuy and I want to go back asap! From having the hostal booked, someone to pick me up at the airport and everything set up for me was a blessing. It really made my trip amazing. I was shown things along the trip that Im sure I never would have been shown if it wasnt for Karikuy. If you are going to Peru, book your trip with them!

by Cleona Luk and Nancy L on January 3rd, 2012

We booked a 2 week custom tour with Karikuy to Machu Picchu, Lima, Puno, floating islands, Arequipa, Nazca lines etc. and they were fabulous!! We made some changes during our trip and Karikuy was very accomodating. All the staff we met were super friendly and helpful. I highly recommend this company to anyone who would like to travel around Peru. They are very knowledgeable and give great advice!

- Cleona Luk

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I just came back from Peru with a group of 3 girls from Canada.  I am very glad we booked with Karikuy.  We had a wonderful experience with Julio and his network of tour guides with a special mention to Jorge Canales (Arequipa) and Oscar Marin (Cusco).   From the moment we landed to the moment we left Peru we were shown great hospitality and felt safe and taken care of through out our entire trip from Lima to Huacachina to Nasca to Arequipa to Puno to Cusco to Machu Picchu and back to Lima.

Unfortunately the airline had lost my luggage upon arriving and Julio was so sweet in following up with the airlines for 7 days till it was found in order to have it delivered to my next destination.  I am so grateful and thankful for that!

I would definately recommend Karikuy to any fellow traveller to Peru!

- Nancy L

by Jason Chambers on December 30th, 2011

My wife and I just returned from the most amazing trip around southern Peru! Thanks to Julio and his wonderful network this was by far one of the most memorable trips we've ever taken! Karikuy's personal approach to coordinating our trip kept us worry free and allowed us to sit back and enjoy our vacation. Julio is a true professional and his tours place an emphasis on the rich peruvian culture while comfortably maximizing your time. We can't say enough about Karikuy. Julio, many thanks and best wishes brother!

-Jason and Sharika, Ewa Beach, Hawaii

by Shriti Suvarna on December 20th, 2011

The picture says it all..I had the most amazing time and experience in Peru. My trip was one year in the making, which means I bugged Julio last year and again this year to put an itinerary together to cover all the places I wanted to visit. Needless to say, after many versions a perfect itinerary was in place and I couldn't be happier with the accommodations, the fun guides and the overall experience that Karikuy had to offer and all that within a reasonable budget. I visited Lima, Nasca Lines, Huacachina, Arequipa, Puno-Lake Titicaca, Cusco, Machu Picchu with the short Inca Trail, all in a 10 day schedule. I would definitely recommend Karikuy to anyone interested in not just seeing Peru, but experiencing Peru to its fullest!

by Christine Estima on October 6th, 2011

As the winner of the 2011 Karikuy contest, I was given the opportunity to hike the Jungle Inca Trail to Machu Picchu, and it was easily one of the greatest travel experiences of my life! I have backpacked all over Europe, the Middle East, North America, and Asia, but this one week in Peru managed to pack in every emotion, experience, and encounter one hopes to have after months on the road. Mountain biking! Whitewater rafting! Zip-lining! Hot springs! And let's not forget hiking deep into the jungle, losing your breath as you go up into the mountains (from the exercise and from the scenery) and then running down into the valleys where ruins and rapids await. Julio took care of everything for me ahead of time (including my vegetarian meals!), which took out a lot of the guess work. And my guides during the trek were knowledgeable, friendly, helpful, and most of all, fun! I have made friends for life and Peru has stolen my heart. Fanks Karikuy!

by Michal Obdrzalek on October 3rd, 2011

Couldn't originally find much about Karikuy but were very pleased we decided to book with this company. We had loads of questions beforehand and also made quite a few changes to our itinerary, which wasn't a problem at all for Julio. Always received a quick response and nothing was an issue. When we arrived in Peru, we were taken care of by Oscar who organized some extra sightseeing for us in Cusco. Everything went smooth, accommodation in Cusco was fantastic, superb experience. Would recommend this company to anyone who wants to relax because they take care of everything for you. Definitely good value for your money. Thank you Karikuy!

I'm really glad I picked Karikuy for my Inca Trail trip. Hiking to Machu Picchu was the best experience of my life and everything went to plan. Julio was really helpful with ongoing email communication prior to the trip, the hotel for me was ideal; with really friendly staff and was perfect place to relax after the trek. The briefing before the trek gave me all the information I needed and the trek itself was superb - excellent guides, who were so kind and informative, with just the right words to keep you going, amazing cooked meals for breakfast, lunch and dinner and a great bunch of hikers. I will never forget this experience and I would recommend Karikuy without hesitation.

Our trip to Peru was one of the best trips we've ever taken. We only had about 8 days to do all the things we wanted, but Julio worked out a very reasonable tour package for us. We met the people of the Uros floating islands in Lake Titicaca, stayed with a family on Amantani island, traveled through the Sacred Valley, explored Machu Picchu and got to climb Huayna Picchu. We ate ceviche, kuy, and alpaca, drank pisco sours, and had a 12-course meal at Astrid y Gastón in Lima. All of our drivers and guides were very helpful and personal, and they answered all of our questions. Every transition between sites was smooth and comfortable. We recommended Karikuy to our friends going on their honeymoon, and we'd recommend Karikuy to anyone else going to Peru. Thank you so much!

We booked our honeymoon trip with Karikuy not knowing what to expect, and we were super happy! Julio was always quick to answer emails and customize our trip the way we wanted it! We always had someone picking us up at the airport, and ensuring we got where we needed to go within the city. We spent a few days in Cuzco, exploring the Sacred Valley and doing a horseback tour. We spent 4 days on the Inca Trail with an amazing guide and great group! Our trip to Puerto Maldonado was also so much fun, and also a great place to relax after the Inca Trail. I would (and will) recommend Karikuy to my family and friends anytime! If you are looking into booking with Karikuy, I would also glady provide more information about our trip! It is an affordable way to see Peru, knowing you have a few dedicated people working to ensure your trip happens flawlessly! Best honeymoon ever! Go Karikuy!

-Andy and Arina from Toronto, Canada

I volunteered at Karikuy for three weeks as part of a ten-month trip around the world, including four months in South America. Myself and my girlfriend Ania wanted something relevant to our careers in the media and found Julio through Volunteer Latin America (VLA). I enjoyed our experience very much. I must confess that not everything about the placement was what I expected it to be, but if the last ten months have taught me anything, it's that almost nothing is as you expect it will be and you will have a better time if you go into things with 'a clean mental pallet'. I found Julio to be welcoming and writing articles for Perupedia and blog posts for Karikuy was exactly my sort of thing! Living in the neighbourhood of Planeta with Julio and having our meals with his family was also great. They were so generous and hospitable and I feel like I've seen the authentic Lima Peru that other backpackers don't see. It was also great to meet and socialise with other travellers during our stay. Watching movies, playing video games and going out for dinners, drinks and tours in Lima was much more fun when shared with our new friends!

As well as running the volunteer program, Julio also booked our Inca Trail trek to Machu Picchu, as well as our flights from Cusco to Lima and our hostel in Cusco. Julio and his associates were so helpful: for example Oscar who picked us up from the airport in Cusco and dropped us back for our return flight; and Bruno, our guide for the four-day trek to Machu Picchu, who was simply excellent. Our week or so in Cusco is one of the highlights of my entire ten-month trip and it wouldn't have been the same without the organisation and effort from Julio et al. We've already passed Julio's details on to several other travellers we've met in Colombia who are heading south to Peru. I say to you what I said to them: highly recommended!

Hello Julio, just wanted to thank you for an incredible trip. It was just what we were looking for. Everything from the sand boarding, buggy rides, repelling and all of the ruins we were able to visit, Machu Picchu, Nazca Lines, Pisac and Ollantaytambo. I've attached some photos of the repelling trip in Corao. Thanks again.

I was collaborating with Karikuy and Perupedia and wrote some posts for the web. There I met very interesting people who I made friends with. Later I got to visit the wonderful museums and whereabouts of Lima. In balance, a very good experience, more so because of the people met and the conversations we had there.

Thank you VERY much for the assistance you provided in arranging our unforgettable group trip to Bolivia and Peru. Despite the last minute schedule changes caused by the striking miners and Peruvian airlines, you and your associates ensured we had minimum of disruption on our journey. We were very happy with all the hotels, tours, and meals included in our package, and thoroughly enjoyed each of the cities we visited. Throughout our trip, all our guides and drivers were polite, professional and knowledgeable about the cities and sites. Thank you, Julio.

Took a trip to Peru and Julio totally hooked it up. Julio was able to set us all up with everything from picking us up/dropping off to the airport, setting the itinerary for the entire trip including booking flights within Peru, as well as managing to take us around Lima while translating for the 3 of us and giving historical anecdotes of Peru, Lima, and his neighborhood. Julio's hospitality in the home was also fantastic and he has a wealth of knowledge about the country as well what to do, where to go, and what/where to eat. Cant wait to go back!

This is the second time I have traveled in Peru with Karikuy. The first trip was to Huaraz, Cuzco, Aguas Calientes, Machu Picchu, Markawasi and Lima. I have just returned from the second trip where we visited Lima (including Miraflores and Barranco), Puerto Maldonado and Ica (including Islas Ballestas). Both trips were full of adventure and an experience I will never forget. From the the hot springs in Aguas Calientes to the clubs in Lima to the jungle in Puerto Maldonado to sandboarding in Ica, Peru is an amazingly diverse and beautiful country with many different types of adventures to pursue. I have traveled extensively throughout Central and South America and what sets Karikuy apart from the rest is the personal attention and excellent service. Julio knows his stuff - from the best restaurants with the best prices to best tour guides, we were taken care of every step of the way. He has first rate customer service and is able to customize a trip to the type of adventure you are seeking. Whatever that may be - don't miss the best ceviche in the world!! :) I always felt safe wherever we went and I was continually impressed with each place we visited. Excellent accommodations and prices. I will be back for more! The picture here is from our hike in Markawasi. Safe travels!! :)

Our trip to Peru in April 2011 went off without a hitch thanks to Karikuy. Julio was extremely helpful with the planning, always returning emails/calls quickly and staying on top of important travel issues like reconfirming flights without our prompting. Once in Peru our guides were excellent! Oscar and his wife made us feel like family in Cusco, personally checking on our hotel room and requesting a bigger room on our behalf without us asking. In the jungle, our guide, Manuel, was knowledgeable, fun, and flexible. We loved the lodge. We originally tried to book much of the vacation ourselves until we realized Julio had access to much better prices. I highly recommend this agency. They are quick to handle any problems, answer any questions, book any type of trip you need, and all at better prices. THANKS KARIKUY!

One of the best decisions I made while travelling to Peru was to allow Karikuy to assist me along the way. They were extremely helpful, patient and knowledgeable. I had a million questions and all of them were answered without hesitation. When travelling to a place you have never been before it's important to know you are making all the right choices and seeing the right places. My itinerary was customized to my exact needs and I was guided the entire step of the way with people who cared about my experience. I had a blast and I owe a lot of that to the Karikuy team for allowing me to have so much fun while they took care of the rest! thank you Julio and the team in Peru! You were Awesome :)

Discovered Julio via the Internet. I liked that he was a young entrepreneur promoting authentic and affordable travel experiences in his home country of Peru. His business was brand new when I worked with him, and he arranged a trip from start to finish for me and my son (incorporating my own personal requests). We had a fabulous time and it was not the "same-old, same-old" boring travel-company type of a trip. We experienced Peru with real locals, seeing sights and sounds that are not on most travel brochures, and it was a trip of a life time. Julio is enthusiastic and very supportive of and interested in helping the local economy and bettering the lives of Peruvians through his programs - it is not just about providing a sight-seeing service to tourists. GREAT GUY! GREAT COMPANY! If you are adventurous, young at heart, on a budget, and can be somewhat spontaneous, then Julio and Karikuy, is for you!

I found out about Karikuy through the internet and immediately thought they're into some serious business, because of their professionally looking website and fast replies by the agents. We booked a custom made trip to Lima, Cusco and Machu Picchu which lasted one week and everything was just perfectly organized. We felt like everyone was taking really good care of us all the time. All the local agencies were a great pick by Karikuy and we never regretted having booked them. We will definitely recommend them to any of our friends travelling to Peru. Thank you Julio for your suggestions and help.

I just returned from my trip to Peru and we decided to go with a tour package last minute. Julio was nothing but helpful and managed to arrange everything for us in a customized and economical fashion. We managed to see everything we wanted and more! Thank you Julio!

As winner of the 2010 Karikuy Machu Picchu Contest, I was lucky enough to visit Lima, Cusco, Aguas Calientes and Machu Picchu with my sister on our very first trip abroad together! Karikuy coordinated all of our transfers, lodging, domestic flights on Peruvian Airlines, tour admissions, PeruRail train rides and English-speaking guides, relieving us of all the typical logistical stresses of traveling. Julio, Oscar, Marco and Wilfredo provided fascinating insights about Peruvian history, culture and landmarks during our guided tours, and we appreciated the thoughtful itinerary, an ideal mix of planned activities with other travelers and free time to explore on our own. We will remember always our first sips of coca tea and Inca Kola, stumbling onto the Festival of the Lady of the Nativity in Cusco Plaza de Armas, our pursuit of the perfect Pisco Sour and the winding Urubamba River in Sacred Valley. Best of all, Machu Picchu truly is a new wonder of the world; seeing the ancient citadel in all its architectural splendor, from the precise masonry and green terraces to the sacred llamas and ethereal mountain views, was a profound and magical adventure of a lifetime. Thank you, Karikuy.

The volunteer programme at Karikuy is one-of-a-kind in the flexibility it provides. One works according to his area of expertise or interest - anthropology in my case - and contributes to Perupedia with the help of his or her personal knowledge and experiences. Of course, said set of knowledge and experiences is greatly expanded by the truly immersive experience at Karikuy; one stays with a family in a Lima neighbourhood no tourist gets to see, marches off on excursions to the farthest corners of the country, and makes use of Mr Tello's travel expertise and contacts across Peru to make the most out of his stay. In my four weeks with Karikuy I have scaled the heights of Marcahuasi, danced with Virgen del Carmen celebrants in the Sacred Valley, cheered amidst football crowds from local club matches to the World Cup finals, and had much, much more food than I probably should have. In all, I recommend Karikuy to those looking for something beyond the run-of-the-mill straitjacket volunteer programme, but who prefer instead a programme flexible to one's interests, schedule and skills.

I booked 3 things through Karikuy -- a horseback tour, the Classic Inca Trail and a flight. Julio got me a great price on the flight and accommodated my request to look into changing the departure time while I was on the trail. Transportation from my guest house to the airport was also (unexpectedly!) provided. The Inca Trail tour itself was fantastic; I definitely think our group was getting every bit as good an experience as others on the trail, but for far less money. I was unhappy with the horseback tour as it wasn't entirely as described, and after letting him know that, Julio gave me a partial refund. Great value, service and attentiveness to customer requests from Julio and his local agent -- I don't think it gets any better than this!

If you're looking for a unique way to explore Peru and experience it in a different light to the average tourist, then volunteering is the way to go. I found that researching and blogging for Karikuy gave me access to a truly authentic side of Peru, living amongst the locals and gaining an insight into how they live. Using Lima as a base, I spent weekends and any chance I could get travelling throughout Peru. Julio was a friendly, knowledgeable host who gave up his time to make sure us volunteers experienced Peru to the max.

Volunteering with Karikuy truly lets you experience all that Peru has to offer. You can take the trek to Machu Picchu that isn't swarming with tourists, visit the country's lesser known sites and cities, and explore every aspect of your home base: Lima. After 1 month, I feel like I got a taste of everything here...the people, the landscape, the food, and yes, the pisco....and hope to one day be back for more!

I had the unique experience of participating in the Karikuy Volunteer Program for a solid 4 months, during which it became apparent to me that this was not your average volunteer experience. The program offered me the unique opportunity to explore this beautiful country from a safe and welcoming home base filled with warm people, delicious food (which at some point became addictive) constant support from Julio and the other volunteers and of course genuinely good fun. The program has challenged me and what I thought I knew about myself, the world and the people in it. And now, having recently returned to Canada, I can definitely say that I've been motivated to continue my exploration of Peru in the near future. This would not have been possible without the Karikuy experience - the ultimate gateway for all that is Peru :)

Thank you and your guide in Cusco Oscar for good organized 1-day Urubamba river rafting tour on the 18 of September 2010. I am satisfied with your rafting. I told my friends and display photos of your rafting tour. Special thanks to Oscar for help with tickets to Machu Picchu and the detailed information given me in Cusco.

My experience volunteering for Karikuy had a lot of firsts. First time traveling to South America, first time visiting a Wonder of the World; Machu Picchu, and most importantly first time writing for a published blog. I really appreciated the chance to start to make a name for myself with travel blog writing and my experiences traveling through Peru has fueled the fire for additional trips to South America and worldwide. Julio and Karikuy made my stay in Lima, Peru comfortable and truly memorable. When I think of Peru I will always have great memories of the delicious food, the amazing nightlife and the breathtaking views while hiking in Huaraz.

An excellent program run by an excellent host. Julio, the founder of the Karikuy organization and his family made me feel right at home during my time volunteering with the organization. Julio went out of his way to make sure I was able to have a genuine Peru experience. He opened up his home to myself and the other volunteers allowing us the opportunity to assimilate into Peruvian society. A truly wonderful experience and one I would recommend to everyone interested in seeing this stunningly beautiful area of South America.

Our trip to Peru has been an extremely enjoyable one thanks to Karikuy. Julio (founder of Karikuy) has been warm and welcoming, giving us a slice of Peruvian life with his hospitality. What impressed me more was the well planned trip that ensured we had someone to take us around at every city in Peru, since we do not speak Spanish. Thanks Julio, Peru had been an awesome trip!

Volunteering for Karikuy was an eye opening experience, one filled with good people, good food and excellent opportunities to explore Peru like a local. As a volunteer I was able to gain more experience in travel writing, make new friends and satisfy my globetrotting tendencies. Julio and his family were extremely welcoming and made you feel right at home with their own brand of Limeño hospitality. From finger licking Peruvian hamburgers and ocean fresh ceviche to all night Peruvian dance fiestas and Machu Picchu jungle treks, you'll get to learn and love all this beautiful country has to offer just as I did.