For my fortieth birthday, my husband and I decided to go all out, and book a two-week luxury and adventure trip to Peru. No strangers to travel in Europe, it was our first time heading to South America, and we knew we needed expert help. After reviewing the itineraries and prices offered by several differing tour companies, we settled on Kuoda and a specialized itinerary crafted by Molly Krifka.

Well, let me tell you that from start to finish, the trip furnished by Kuoda was utter perfection! Our private guide was knowledgeable and friendly. The hotels were amazing! I’m pretty sure Sol Y Luna and the breakfast at Belmont was basically Heaven on Earth. (It should also be noted that Kuoda regularly does checks of locations to make sure they are up-to-par to their standards.) The same goes for activities. Everything from horseback riding in Cusco, to staying at Sky Lodge, to visiting an eco-lodge in the Amazon, to eating at the top restaurants in Lima, was BEYOND our expectations. Luxury wasn’t the word for it. For two weeks, I felt like a Real Housewife!

But beyond the obvious great locations and bucket-list sites, let me tell you why Kuoda and Molly stood out among the rest–and why you ABSOLUTELY most use them to book your trip to Peru.

Normally, I am the “planner” for our family vacations. I’m the one with the schedule, organizing tickets, double-checking we have everything organized. One of the things I loved about this trip was that I didn’t have to DO anything. Literally, from train tickets, museum tickets, dinner reservations, drivers, and guides–Kuoda handled it all! I joked it was basically idiot-proof, and boy, did I appreciate that!

In addition to all these things, my husband and I have several dietary restrictions. Well, in every single restaurant we ate in, the waiter and chef had already been informed of our dietary restrictions. In one restaurant, and on my birthday, they even went out of their way to make me a dairy-free dessert. (And that didn’t include all the extras that occurred, chocolates by our bedside, a train singing happy birthday to me, UPGRADES galore!) From start to finish, every day of our trip was beyond a dream come true.

I also want to give a shoutout to the fact that Molly worked very hard to craft a trip for me that would work in tandem with my chronic illness. If you have children, elderly relatives, or other concerns that may require more individualization–do not hesitate to contact Kuoda. They can absolutely create the perfect trip for you!

We came home from that trip talking about how we couldn’t wait to get back to South America. Unfortunately, the pandemic hit about a month after we arrived home, and put off any adventure travel for the foreseeable future. But we will certainly be back to visit South America, and when we do, we will absolutely be calling up Molly and Kuoda once more. The hype is real people! They are the best Peru has to offer.