Peru Travel Review: A Family Memorial Trip to Machu Picchu, Lima, Sacred Valley, Tambopata Rainforest Reserve

First and foremost, a most sincere thank you to our agent from this Peru travel company!  Our agent responded to my special request for assistance in putting together a family trip to Peru over Christmas 2014. What made the trip bittersweet was the reason for making the trip. Our beautiful daughter Karri passed on January 2, 2014 after a brave 5 year battle with brain cancer. She accomplished many things during that time but she was unable to travel to South America. We wanted to make a special trek to Peru - making a trip she would have wanted to make. Our agent worked with us long and hard to make this a success. We were able to spread some of Karris' ashes at Machu Picchu - thanks to our very special guide.

There were a total of 11 people in our group - of which Scarlett our 11 month old grand-daughter was one! She did amazingly well and I do mean she was a trouper! Her parents had purchased a large baby backpack and she loved being able to see everything! Our agent had been able to make special arrangements with all our lodging for a crib or similar - we were not disappointed. She was the youngest ever to stay at the lodge in the rainforest and prior to that it had been an 18 month old!

To co-ordinate such a trip and to ensure that it is the best it can be - start several months in advance for the best prices, accommodations, etc.  Our agent had suggested that we upgrade to 4-star hotels and we were so very glad we did - they were all wonderful and we were not disappointed. This is not a trip to short change yourself! I had personally read reviews on all of the Peruvian airlines and I have to admit one could become skeptical BUT we were 100% pleased with LAN air! They were on time, comfortable seats (more room than on most US airlines), we were served food which US airlines have forgotten how to do! Their staff was very, very nice. 

Our agent also had coordinated our trip itinerary to take into consideration the drastic altitude changes - and they are indeed significant. FYI - half of our group is medically oriented - so I did a lot of research on this. I recommend taking Ginkgo Biloba starting 2 weeks before you leave and continue while on your trip. Also see if your physician will give you a script for Diamox (to be used if anyone develops altitude sickness). There is also coco leaf tea in the foyer of most hotels to drink (which also should help). I am glad to say that no one on our trip got sick! I believe the Ginkgo is responsible for helping with that fact. (look up the clinical trials that used Ginkgo to combat this issue).

Pack light - and I mean one small suitcase (carry on size)  and a backpack! You will be glad you did - if you travel a lot then you will know what I mean! Forget the umbrella - take a rain poncho and a waterproof windbreaker. The weather was suppose to be rain everyday of our trip - we were blessed with almost perfect weather with just a little bit of rain here and there - couldn't complain at all! One pair of shoes is all you will need - very, very comfortable walking shoes with very good tread for all those steps and I mean hundreds and hundreds of steps BUT we would do it again without hesitation.

In case you might be wondering our ages were from 11 months to 75 years! 

Your overall comments on Zicasso

I read several of your posted reviews which were very positive and gave me the confidence in working with the travel company I chose. When the owner of the company said that she read my email about our daughter and she felt a need to help us so that we would have a memorable experience - I knew she was the right person - compassionate and caring above and beyond! It became her mission - thank you so much!!!!!