Chris Dawes - an Englishman living in Munich - got in touch with PeruNorth in February 2026, looking for help in booking a 3-week family trip (all adults) to Peru.
His daughter, Jana, took over the booking process, and the upshot was a three-centre itinerary at the end of June - beginning of July, starting with a 4-day Kuelap & Gocta tour, followed by 7 nights in and around Cusco doing an extended version of our Low-Altitude Machu Picchu tour, with the Short Inca Trail and a day-trip to Palcoyyo Rainbow Mountain.
Finally, they flew to Puerto Maldonado for four nights exploring the Amazon rainforest in and around Tambopata National Park.
Here is what Jana had to say about the experience:
"We had an absolutely amazing trip and really appreciate all the planning that went into it. Peru is an incredible destination, and it felt like every day was a highlight.
We’ve tried to consolidate our feedback and weave the answers to your questions in below. Hopefully this is helpful!
Chachapoyas
This was such an unexpected gem and we’re so happy we got to see this less-visited part of Peru. It ended up being one of the highlights of the whole trip.
Guide (Jhon)
Jhon was absolutely fantastic - without question one of the best guides we’ve ever had on any trip.
He is incredibly knowledgeable about history, archaeology, flora, fauna and conservation, and clearly very passionate about what he does.
He seemed able to answer virtually every question we asked.
He constantly pointed out birds, plants and wildlife that we would never have noticed ourselves, which made the excursions so much richer.
He’s also very humble, genuine and kind, and managed the group really well.
We would highly recommend using Jhon for future guests whenever possible.
Excursions
Kuelap was fascinating, and Jhon’s explanations really brought the site to life. It was probably our favourite cultural destination of the trip.
Gocta Falls was spectacular. We especially appreciated how Jhon paced the hike - he regularly stopped to point out birds or interesting plants, which naturally gave everyone a chance to catch their breath and have some water without making it feel like a rest stop.
The Hummingbird Refuge was another highlight, and we were thrilled we got the chance to see the Marvelous Spatuletail!
Gocta Lodge
Gocta Lodge was probably our favourite accommodation of the trip. The setting overlooking Gocta Falls was beautiful.
The lodge was excellent, the food was consistently delicious and the staff were incredibly friendly and attentive.
We especially appreciated that the food was fresh and made with regional ingredients, with good vegetarian options.
Sacred Valley, Inca Trail, Machu Picchu, Cusco & Palcoyyo
Arrival in Cusco: overall the logistics worked, but the first day felt a bit confusing.
After being picked up in Cusco by Gisela (a short-notice stand-in for our actual guide Frank, who joined us the following day) and the driver, there wasn’t much explanation of the day’s plan.
We were asked by Gisela whether we still wanted to visit Chinchero without really knowing what to expect there.
The Chinchero visit turned out to be an alpaca “farm” where we immediately started feeding alpacas without any introduction or explanation.
Afterwards we were taken into the shop, where we felt quite pressured to buy products.
About 15 minutes before arriving in Ollantaytambo, while driving on a very noisy, bumpy road, Gisela suddenly went through our itinerary, sent us all our train and Machu Picchu tickets, handed us additional tickets for Cusco, and mentioned a 5:00 am pickup for the Inca Trail. It felt like a lot of important information being delivered at a time when it was difficult to take it all in.
Guide (Frank)
We really enjoyed having Frank as our guide. He was warm, personable and genuinely cared about making sure everyone had a great experience. We had a lot of fun with him.
His strength is clearly outdoor activities and hiking. He was particularly good at making sure everyone felt comfortable and confident on the trails.
He never rushed anyone and always encouraged everyone to go at their own pace.
On both the Inca Trail and Palcoyyo [Rainbow Mountain] he regularly offered agua florida, which everyone appreciated, and he always had coca leaves available, even sharing them with passing porters, which was lovely to see.
His suggestion to eat lunch at the Sun Gate after completing the Inca Trail could not have been better. Walking through the Sun Gate for the first view of Machu Picchu and then sitting there eating lunch overlooking the site was one of the most memorable moments of the trip.
Machu Picchu itself was absolutely incredible - genuinely mind-blowing. Seeing it for the first time after walking through the Sun Gate was an incredibly emotional moment for us and honestly brought a few tears. It was one of the most powerful moments of the entire trip.
Frank shared stories about his family and life in Cusco, which gave us a more personal insight into local life and made the experience feel more authentic.
On the way to Palcoyyo he took us to his brother’s restaurant for breakfast and lunch. We’d already heard stories about his family during the trip, so meeting his brother made it feel like a very personal experience.
Frank really shines during the outdoor parts of the itinerary. If future guests are especially interested in history and archaeology, it could also be worth considering a second guide who specialises in the historical sites around Cusco.
Hiking & other practical observations
We felt that the difficulty of the Short Inca Trail is understated in the itinerary. We all completed it comfortably, but it would have been helpful to know beforehand that the first two hours are almost entirely uphill stairs so people can prepare physically and mentally.
Palcoyyo was also physically demanding because of the altitude, but Frank was excellent at making sure we could take our time and go at our own pace.
The boxed lunch on the Inca Trail was delicious, but surprisingly bulky. Each person received two containers, fruit, a cereal bar and a glass bottle of juice, all of which had to fit into our own backpacks, in addition to the three liters of water that was recommended. A more compact lunch would probably be more practical.
During the Cusco day, we visited another alpaca farm with another gift shop. As we’d already had a very similar experience in Chinchero, this felt repetitive. We also didn’t complete all of the activities listed in the itinerary - we visited Sacsayhuamán, the Cathedral and the Inka Palace - and without the second alpaca farm we may have had time for another historical site.
Accommodation note
Although this wasn’t booked through you, if future clients ask about Peru Quechua’s Lodge, we would strongly recommend advising against it based on our experience.
Sonqori Centro Historico [in Cusco] is really lovely!
Amazon
This was another major highlight of the trip.
Guide (Gabriel)
Gabriel was outstanding - on the same level as Jhon.
He was incredibly knowledgeable about the Amazon, its wildlife, plants, ecology and history.
His enthusiasm was infectious, and it was obvious how proud he is of where he comes from.
He answered every question in depth and constantly stopped to explain interesting plants, animals and other discoveries without us even needing to ask.
He shared personal stories about growing up in the Amazon, often chatting with us over dinner, which made the experience feel incredibly authentic.
He always looked after the group, checking everyone was comfortable during more difficult sections of the walks.
His communication was excellent. Every day he clearly explained the schedule, what we needed to bring and what to expect, so we always felt well prepared.
Chuncho Lodge
Chuncho Lodge was another favourite accommodation. The food was consistently very good, with excellent vegetarian options.
Shame the swimming pool was not full enough to swim in – not a major issue though.
It was great that coffee was always available throughout the day.
The combination of the Amazon setting, quiet, jungle sounds, activities and downtime made it a very enjoyable place to stay.
Having a few hours of downtime between activities each day was actually really refreshing after the fast pace of the rest of our itinerary.
We also enjoyed being part of a small group, which created a lovely atmosphere.
Lake Sandoval
Lake Sandoval was a wonderful final stop. The peaceful, tranquil atmosphere on the lake provided the perfect ending to the trip.
Although the accommodation was intentionally basic and isolated, which we expected, the hospitality exceeded expectations.
Every meal was fresh, delicious and served on time, with three courses, which was impressive given the remote location.
Equipment suggestion
It would have been helpful to know in advance that we should bring a headlamp/flashlight and binoculars. We assumed these would be provided by the lodge, but most other guests had brought their own.
Gabriel kindly loaned us his spare equipment, but having a few extras available for guests would be a nice addition.
Local communities & sustainability
One thing we really appreciated throughout the trip was the opportunity to learn from our local guides.
We had meaningful interaction with locals particularly through our guides. All three shared personal stories about their lives, families and the regions they come from, which gave us a much deeper understanding of the places we were visiting.
Gabriel’s stories about growing up in the Amazon and Frank’s stories about his family and life in Cusco made the experience feel much more personal than simply visiting the sights.
We also stayed at locally operated lodges and ate at local establishments, which gave us the feeling that a meaningful portion of our spending was going directly to local businesses and people.
Jhon spoke naturally and frequently about conservation, flora and fauna and the importance of protecting the region. Gabriel similarly provided a lot of information about the Amazon ecosystem and the importance of preserving it. We appreciated that these topics were integrated naturally into the experiences rather than presented as formal sustainability talks.
We didn’t notice any major environmental issues during the trip, except for the gold mining just up river from Chuncho Lodge. As northern Peru attracts more visitors, we think maintaining the relatively low-impact, small-group nature of experiences like those in Chachapoyas and the Amazon will be important.
We also think the repeated alpaca farm/gift shop experiences could be reconsidered - not necessarily from an environmental perspective, but because it would be helpful to give visitors more context about the businesses and how their purchases support local communities.
Food & drink
The food throughout the trip was generally excellent.
Gocta Lodge and Chuncho Lodge stood out in particular for fresh, regional ingredients and good vegetarian options.
We didn’t notice any significant weight change over the course of the trip!
Transport
Overall, the transport worked well and it was very convenient not having to organise it ourselves.
Some of the mountain roads were understandably very bumpy, but that’s obviously part of travelling in these regions.
The train to Machu Picchu was a particularly comfortable and enjoyable way to travel.
A few other points per your questions
We didn’t have any significant issues with insect bites.
We had some normal soreness and fatigue after the longer hikes and from the altitude, but nothing that affected our enjoyment of the trip.
We were generally happy with what we packed. The one thing we would have liked to know beforehand was that headlamps/flashlights and binoculars weren’t necessarily provided in the Amazon, as we would have brought our own.
The chronology of the trip was excellent for altitude acclimatisation.
Overall, this was an excellent trip that we’ll remember for a long time. Chachapoyas, Machu Picchu and the Amazon were the real highlights, and our guides played a huge role in making those experiences so memorable.
Jhon and Gabriel were truly exceptional, while Frank brought a warm, personal and very supportive style that we really enjoyed, particularly on the outdoor portions of the trip.
The biggest opportunities for improvement would be clearer communication around logistics and expectations, providing a little more historical depth during some guided visits, and avoiding repeated (OK, only two) shopping stops.
We also think that as northern Peru attracts more visitors, continuing to prioritise local guides, small groups, locally operated accommodation and meaningful conservation education will be important.
Those (very minor) refinements could make an already fantastic itinerary even stronger.
In summary, it was a fantastic trip – a very big THANK YOU from our entire family for helping to make it so special.
We’ll certainly be recommending you to anyone we know who is planning a trip to Peru!
Kind regards,
Dawes/Lai Family :)”