Who we are, and why we love travel

With Peru for Less, you get more than just a tour package. You get a personalized experience from start to finish. Our fully customizable tours let you travel the way you want, with the comfort and flexibility you value. Learn more about the service we offer and meet the staff that will help you plan the vacation of a lifetime.

Specialists | About Us | Our Staff

Specialists

Our Specialists are artists, educators, and scholars whose extensive knowledge of Peru’s history, culture, and economics helps us fine-tune travel packages with the best tours and unique experiences. At Peru For Less, we think there’s more to travel than just snapping stellar selfies. We believe that embarking on new adventures, conversations with locals, and even moments of silent observation are what truly enrich your time abroad.

Kim MacQuarrie

Four-time Emmy winner and author of 3 books on Peru

Kim MacQuarrie is an American-born Four-time Emmy-winning documentary filmmaker and author of 3 books on Peru. He has a bachelor’s degree in biology and a Master’s in anthropology. He has spent several years in Peru visiting all the Inca ruins he has been able to find, and living with the Yora, a recently-contacted tribe of indigenous Amazonians. This experience was the inspiration for his book The Last Days of the Incas, which recounts one of the greatest epic stories in the Americas - the conquest of the 10-million-strong Inca Empire by 168 Spaniards.

A keen explorer and adventurer, Kim has won 4 Emmy Awards -- 3 of them for documentaries on the Peruvian Amazon.

http://www.kimmacquarrie.com/

Virgilio Martinez

Winner of the World’s Top Chef Award
Our Culinary Expert

Virgilio Martinez, Peruvian chef considered the greatest Latin American Chef of his generation. His experimental techniques translate traditional Peruvian dishes into beautiful modern culinary masterpieces. His Central and MIL restaurants continuously climb the World's 50 Best Lists with Central claiming the title of 4th best restaurant in the world. Today Peru For Less counts on Martinez as Peru’s premier culinary expert, helping travelers understand the deep agricultural and gastronomic history that Peru has to offer.

Alonso Cueto

Ph.D. in Philosophy, University of Texas. Award-winning author

Alonso Cueto is an award-winning author of novels, stories, and essays that explore contemporary issues in Peru and their connection to the past. His work has been translated into 15 languages and he is one of the most prestigious Spanish-speaking writers in the world. Alonso also has a unique artistic sensibility that connects the imaginary with imagination. One can say that he is a master of telling stories about mind-blowing travel.

Gonzalo Salinas

Ph.D in Economics at Oxford University

Gonzalo Salinas is a Peruvian businessman and scholar with a unique vision for travel planning. He completed his Ph.D in Economics at Oxford University, and his masters in Development Economics at Harvard University. Along his fruitful career as a scholar, he has penned several works for the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund. His travel vision is a mixture of deep business research and the understanding of what a traveler looks for in South America.

About us

Founded in 1998, Peru For Less has more than 2 decades of experience
crafting worry-free, customized vacations to Peru.

About Us

We are a U.S.-based travel firm serving clients worldwide...
Founded in 1998, Peru for Less is part of the Latin America For Less travel group. We are a leading tour operator serving more than 2,500 travelers a year. We have offices in Austin (Texas, USA) as well as in Lima and Cusco (Peru) and a full time staff of over 50 people.

Peru for Less does not mean budget travel...
...it means budget-conscious travel designed to get you the most value at an affordable price. We partner only with the best hotels, guides, and outfitters to ensure maximum comfort and the highest quality.

Personalized trip planning, expert travel advice, exceptional customer service, 24/7 in-trip assistance, and more!
From creating your itinerary until your final flight back home, we handle the logistics of travel so that you can focus on what matters: enjoying the trip of a lifetime.

How we work

Expert Travel Advice
An experienced Peru for Less travel advisor will work with you over the phone or by email to answer your questions and prepare you for your trip. No question or request is too big or too small. We guarantee a response within 24 hours.

Personalized Itineraries
Got a long list of places you want to see but not many days? We’ve fine-tuned our itineraries so that you’ll spend less time in transit and more time enjoying the wonders of Peru. Tell us where you want to go and we’ll create the perfect trip for you.

Small Group and Private Tours
Choose small group or private service or a mix of both! Small group tours allow you to save money and meet like-minded travelers, while private tours give you freedom to go at your own pace and focus on your interests.

24-Hour Emergency Phone
Travel hiccups happen. You can count on us to smooth out the bumps. Once your trip begins, you have access to our 24-hour emergency phone number. Our English-speaking operators will be there to assist you with any query or concern.

Experienced Peru Guides
We work with certified English-speaking local tour guides who are passionate about Peru. Our guides will engage your curiosity about history, nature, and culture, and will help you get to the heart of a destination.

Our social commitment

The experiences Peru offers each of us are individually unique and our Peru For Less team is proud to connect you with travel opportunities that not only enrich your time here but impact the destinations and local communities we visit for the better.

Our Staff

We are a diverse group of travelers, hailing from cities across Peru and from countries around the world. But across our different backgrounds, we share two things in common: a passion for travel and a belief that responsive and caring customer service is the surest path to creating an excellent and comfortable vacation experience. Keep reading to learn more about the team who will plan your trip.

Bernard Schleien
Director & Founder