Peru Travel – Luxury Travel to Peru, Galapagos & Bolivia https://www.kuodatravel.com Kuoda Travel Tue, 20 Jul 2021 15:38:47 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=5.7.3 Coronavirus in Peru? – UPDATE https://www.kuodatravel.com/coronavirus-in-peru-update/ https://www.kuodatravel.com/coronavirus-in-peru-update/#respond Tue, 10 Mar 2020 21:51:20 +0000 https://www.kuodatravel.com/?p=32497

It’s been all over the news, and you’re wondering – do I need to worry about Coronavirus COVID-19 during my trip to Peru? As scary and unnerving as a new, contagious disease can be, there are a lot of reasons you don’t need to panic with this new coronavirus.

What is a coronavirus, anyway? A coronavirus is a general term for a family of viruses that are round and have spokes, making them look like a crown (hence the name – ‘corona’virus) which typically affect the respiratory system of mammals and birds, including humans. This can include anything from the common cold, pneumonia, and other known diseases, such as SARS and MERS. These types of viruses are responsible for 15 – 30 percent of common colds, and have been found in mice, rats, dogs, cats, turkeys, bats, people, etc.

So, what makes this one special? This one is noteworthy because it is still relatively new, and so there are still a lot of unknowns.

How many cases are there in South America?  As of 12pm on March 10, 2020, there were 100 total cases in South America:

  • Brazil – 31
  • Argentina – 17
  • Chile – 17
  • Ecuador – 15
  • Peru – 11
  • French Guiana – 5
  • Colombia – 3
  • Paraguay – 1

coronavirus in south america

What are the symptoms? The most common symptoms of COVID-19 are fever, tiredness, and dry cough. Some patients may have aches and pains, nasal congestion, runny nose, sore throat or diarrhea. These symptoms are usually mild and begin gradually. Some people become infected but don’t develop any symptoms and don’t feel unwell. Most people (about 80%) recover from the disease without needing special treatment. Around 1 out of every 6 people who gets COVID-19 becomes seriously ill and develops difficulty breathing.

How do I protect myself? You’ll want to follow the same protocol that you really should during any flu season or during any travels:

  • Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol if soap and water are not available.
  • Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
  • Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
  • Stay home (or possibly your hotel room) if you are sick.
  • Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
  • Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.

Do I need to worry about this? A little bit, yes, though you don’t need to panic. The illness is generally quite mild, especially for younger adults and children. There can be complications, however, with approximately 1 in 5 people who catch it needing hospital care. Older people, and those with underlying medical problems like high blood pressure, heart problems or diabetes, are more likely to develop serious illness. People with fever, cough and difficulty breathing should seek medical attention. So you don’t need to worry too much, however you will want to keep an eye on any symptoms you may have, and seek medical attention if they become severe.

We are staying on top of the situation, and so if you have any questions, you can ask your travel designer! Also, if you would like to learn more about what we know about the COVID-19 so far, you can check out this video – or check out the World Health Organization’s website, which has the latest on all things COVID-19 – you can check out their main COVID-19 site, or just go directly to the FAQs.

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Umasbamba Weavers: A Local Story https://www.kuodatravel.com/umasbamba-weavers-a-local-story/ https://www.kuodatravel.com/umasbamba-weavers-a-local-story/#respond Thu, 11 Oct 2018 20:59:56 +0000 https://www.kuodatravel.com/?p=29071

Perhaps you’ve laid eyes on a Peruvian textile, held it in your hands and admired its flawless threadwork, vibrant colors, and intricate design?  Or maybe your experience with the textiles of Peru extends only to the photos that fill the pages of your Google search results aiding you as you plan (or dream about) your tour of Peru? Either way, it’s important to know that Peruvian textiles are as embedded in the Andean culture of Peru as Huayno music, potatoes, and the Incas. In this blog post, we share the story and innovative spirit behind the Umasbamba weavers breaking the mold and putting their humble Andean village on the map through their art.

A Background on Umasbamba
Small Quechua Village

Small Quechua Village

Umasbamba is a small Quechua village of about 32 families located on the outskirts of Chinchero in the Cusco region. Like many Andean villages, subsistence farming and weaving put food on the table and a roof over their heads, however, unlike other Andean villages Umasbamba is a place where education has value and a better future is actually tangible. Why? The answer is buried within the fabric of their Peruvian textiles and, more specifically, the visionary Umasbamba weavers weaving them.

The Umasbamba Weavers
Umasbamba Weavers

Umasbamba Weavers

While weaving is a pre-Columbian tradition still practiced in villages throughout the Peruvian Andes, the Umasbamba weavers have taken their treasured skill and built infrastructures around it that go far beyond the Sunday Market in Chinchero —  many travelers’ only introduction to Peruvian textiles and the women who weave them, and a removed one at that.

In fact, what sets the Umasbamba weavers apart is their willingness to share more than their textiles with curious travelers. They were willing to share the world — their world — behind each meticulously crafted piece, from the simple adobe mud brick structures they call home to the fields that grow the food that fills their plates. This step in their journey has earned them and their craft newfound recognition and a path forward to previously unthinkable opportunities for such a remote Andean community.

The Umasbamba Textile Museum
Textile Museum

Textile Museum

After years of opening their hearts and homes to travelers the world over, the Umasbamba weavers again did something unprecedented. This past July, they opened the Umasbamba Textile Museum, a place that offers travelers to Peru yet another way to deeply connect with Peruvian culture on their Peru holiday. The museum is the culmination of a long unfolding project to share the story and the art of textile weaving in Peru and, more specifically, in Umasbamba. The museum is like a one-stop-shop for travelers to learn the history behind the Peruvian textile tradition, see the weaving process unfold and to purchase textiles straight from the weavers who wove them.

Travel with Kuoda to Umasbamba

Stepping inside the traditions of the Peruvian Andes is a special experience, never more so than through the Umasbamba weavers. This immersive cultural experience takes you behind the thread in a way that puts new meaning into the textiles you may purchase. Talk about the ultimate Peru trip souvenir! Contact a Kuoda Travel Designer today to begin personalizing your Peru itinerary with unique Peru travel experiences like this one.

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Home https://www.kuodatravel.com/ Mon, 16 May 2016 21:24:15 +0000 http://www.kuodatravel.com/?page_id=6380

Private, Curated, and Luxury Travel to South America

Pursue your Dreams, Inspire your Memories

Kuoda Certificates

Kuoda is Ready for You

A Message from our Founder    |   Keeping You Safe   |    Maximizing Flexibility    |    FAQs

Indulge in the Luxury of Personalized Travel

A family-owned boutique, luxury travel company located in Cusco, Peru since 2004, Kuoda Travel is dedicated to crafting exquisite, luxury travel experiences throughout South America which open your heart and touch your soul.

Our private journeys reveal the places we are most passionate about, places we call home, creating a deeper connection with the land and communities around us.

Everywhere you go, you leave an imprint, and these places leave an imprint on you. With us, you can be sure this imprint will improve the lives you touch, and create wonderful memories for years to come.

Why Plan Your Luxury travel with Kuoda

CURATED JOURNEYS
designed by top travel agents

Our travel designers create highly-personalized itineraries with your interests and style of travel in mind. Our network of carefully chosen partners allows us to offer exclusive access to many activities, ensuring a meaningful and safe travel experience, while our first-hand knowledge results in a wonderful journey made just for you.

AUTHENTIC EXPERIENCES
to enrich your vacation

While the more popular destinations can be fun, we know that you are looking for something deeper. We immerse our travelers in local and culturally authentic experiences that are truly transformative and unforgettable, such as learning weaving techniques in a local community or sharing a home-cooked meal.

TRAVEL WITH INTEGRITY
through our luxury travel agency

As a local company, integrity means more than just recycling or hosting a chocolatada for Christmas. We strive to be truly socially and environmentally responsible, meaning that we are proactively carbon neutral, and we contribute to local economies, preserving local culture and heritage. With us, you can be sure of traveling with integrity.

Luxury Tours in South American Destinations

Private, Customized Itineraries in each Country

If you’re ready to travel to South America, but you’re not sure what exactly you’d like to see and do, read more here for a bit of inspiration. There truly is something for everyone – adventurous mountain hikes, luxurious river cruises, leisurely horseback rides through the countryside, and more! Then when you want more information, you can reach out to our travel experts who can turn your dreams of travel to South America into reality!

More Reviews

Signature Itineraries

DESIGNED BY OUR BEST TRAVEL AGENTS

While all of our journeys are custom-designed, we do have some sample itineraries that you can look at as a place to start. Whether your goal is to explore the Amazon jungle, hike through the coffee region of Colombia, take in the majesty of Patagonia, or visit Machu Picchu in style, you can find a jumping-off point, and we can design your perfect vacation from there!

Dream, Plan and Discover
travel-designer

Connect with our travel experts

Design your Dream
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About Us https://www.kuodatravel.com/about-us/ Mon, 22 Feb 2016 04:40:58 +0000 http://www.kuodatravel.com/?page_id=214

About Kuoda

Meet Kuoda Travel, the Luxury Travel Agency Behind Your South American Luxury Tour

What Makes us Different

Innovative & Enriching Itineraries

At Kuoda Travel, our personalized South American itineraries are designed to leave not just a positive impression, but a lasting one, too. Of course you’ll go home with outstanding photos (that’s a given), but you’ll also return from our tours with much more: a sense of rejuvenation, priceless memories, and new perspectives on – and a greater understanding of – the world and its cultures.

For Local Insight

We are a Peruvian-owned luxury travel agency with offices in the U.S. and Peru. Having an on-the-ground presence in Cusco gives us a vital edge. Not only do we know the region like the back of our hand, but we’re able to keep abreast of any exciting goings-on as well as any changes that may affect your travel experience. We know the best time to avoid traffic, and when festivities may result in reveler-clogged streets. Put simply, we don’t miss a beat.

To Discover the Unknown

We actively seek out the undiscovered: the hidden-away wonders, the little-known locales and out-of-the-way attractions. In other words, the things that have yet to make it into the guidebooks. We believe that by providing extraordinary experiences that fit your passion, we can take your vacation to the next level. Our focus is fixed on your individual requirements, interests and wishes, so you can expect our itineraries to be of the mold-breaking – not cookie-cutter – variety.

Best Value for Your Money

Your leisure time is a seriously precious commodity, so you have the right to expect the best return for your investment. We understand that letting us plan how you spend it is an act of trust, and we promise we’ll be there to provide personal attention and service at every point of the process. We want your luxury trip to South America to leave you longing for more, and ready to plan your next vacation with us.

Our Dedication To Our People

At Kuoda, we don’t see our clients as cogs in a machine, but as real, live people and thus deserving of the best hospitality and warmth south of the equator. A simple concept which makes all the difference. We value your opinions as we craft itineraries to exceed your expectations and surpass your wildest imaginations. It’s not just our clients that matter, either. We are equally passionate about the people and environments of the countries we send them to. This is why we’re more than happy to arrange for travelers to participate in philanthropic efforts, cultural exchanges, and other mutually enriching experiences.

 

Who We Are

Kuoda Travel was born out of a simple observation. Our founder and president, Mery Calderon, witnessed a group of exasperated tourists being shepherded onto a tour bus in Peru. This sad scene provoked a light-bulb moment: what Peru needed was a specialized, customer-oriented travel agent that treated travelers not as faceless, nameless numbers to fill coach spaces, but as individual people. Ever since, Kuoda has been providing private, flexible and personalized luxury tours all over South America.

Piecing together a complex and highly customized international itinerary online can prove difficult, not to mention restrictive – many transport, accommodation and activity services in rural regions of South America don’t have an internet presence. Traditional travel agencies often fall short too; many of these agents have never even been to South America. On the other hand, we wrote the book on luxury travel in Peru, and are now one of the best luxury tour operators in South America. Think of us as a living, breathing guidebook just for you.

For us, luxury is not defined by expense or excess, but ensuring the experience you crave and taking care of the nitty-gritty logistics so all you need to concern yourself with is enjoying your trip. This could mean staying in a 5-star hotel, of course, or it could be a charming family-owned boutique with appealing character or an unbeatable location. Either way, we won’t try to upsell you into something you don’t want.

Our intelligent itineraries are designed with you in mind, and your experience drives everything we do. This means you will never have to sleepwalk to the Lima airport in the middle of the night, only to arrive in Cusco for an exhausting day chock-full of activities; we won’t test your navigational skills by forcing you to find your own way from the hotel to your cooking class; we won’t make you cough up cash for three-course dinners when all you want is a salad. Your ease, comfort, and pleasure are guaranteed when you travel with us.

Our passionate and experienced travel-loving staff have heaps of knowledge and an adventure-seeker spirit needed to create unique and interesting itineraries. We also have a network of more than 80 top-of-their-field guides, drivers, historians, chefs and experts, who will ensure your experience is unforgettable. Even our name – Kuoda – meaning to expand, to improve, to learn and to grow, reflects our philosophy perfectly. Our team is strongly committed to these principles and is always looking for new finds to share with you here in South America.

 

How We Work With You

Getting to Know You

Once you establish contact with Kuoda, we’ll ascertain the basics: where you want to go, how you like to travel, your timeframe, budget, who’s coming with you, health and diet considerations, etc. Next we get down to the juicy bits: your interests and passions, and what makes you tick. Armed with this useful information, we’ll get to work creating a complimentary itinerary proposal for your customized tour to South America.

Itinerary Development

This is your private and wholly customized tour, so we think it’s only fair you get to have your say. Which is why at this stage, we revert back to you so you can share your thoughts. Once we’ve received your feedback, we’ll start refining your itinerary, all the while remaining in contact by phone and email should you have any thoughts, concerns, or lightning-bolt realizations. The process continues until we’ve crafted an itinerary about which you are truly excited!

Finalization, Confirmation & Deposit

Once you give us the final nod of approval for the itinerary, we’ll begin confirming hotels and trains. After between two and three business days, we’ll report back with updates. At this point, we also request a 30 percent deposit. Upon receipt of the deposit, we’ll continue arranging the details of your personalized trip, reserving tours, transportation and entrance tickets. We confirm all bookings in advance, so you know exactly what to expect and don’t have to worry about unexpected last-minute changes.

Preparing for Departure

After poring over the details and ensuring everything is in place, we’ll send you the full detailed itinerary for your luxury tour via email. This is when the excitement really begins. Your impending trip will seem more real than ever as you read through day-by-day accounts of planned activities, as well as hotel names and addresses, guide meeting times, key transportation information and locations. We’ll also include contact names and numbers for the Kuoda team as well as helpful packing tips and details about changing money, insurance and health precautions. Ninety days before departure, we will request the remainder of your payment.

Arrival & Your Travel Experience

This is when you will see just how we have developed our reputation as one of the best tour operators in South America. As soon as you arrive, you will be met at the airport by your Kuoda host who will take you to your hotel, go through your itinerary, provide directions for meeting your guide and generally make sure things go as smoothly as possible for you. Have any lingering questions or hesitations? Now is the time to ask! After, your guides will take care of all the day-to-day logistics, as well as dealing with any unexpected hurdles you encounter. A Kuoda customer service representative will also check in every other day just to make sure everything is going as expected. And should you have any burning questions or a need for assistance, the Kuoda team is always contactable 24/7 via Whatsapp, phone, and email.

Returning Home

We’ll do our best to make your return journey home as smooth as possible. A Kuoda team member will go with you to the airport and ensure you are comfortably settled in your departing flight. We’ll also be contactable upon your return.

 

What We Do Best

Personalized Travel Experiences

No stone is left unturned in our quest to deliver exceptional private tours to South America. With us, it’s all about you! We take your wants, needs, time constraints, budget and personal travel style into account to deliver experiences that are far from standard.

Luxury Travel

The level of service you receive and the experience you have is of the utmost importance to us. We cultivate and maintain excellent relationships with top South American guides, hotels and restaurants to ensure the best for our clients.

Attention to Detail

With Kuoda, details are everything and thanks to our diligent approach, nothing falls between the cracks. When you use Kuoda to plan luxury travel in Sough America, you can rest assured that your trip will be seamless.

Knowledge

Our team visits and thoroughly investigates all destinations, services, and amenities featured on our unique itineraries, so we can be sure we are offering the best quality, services, and price for our clients.

Infrastructure

Our network of carefully chosen partners are selected based on the quality of their services and on their sustainable approach and practices, which ensure local communities benefit as well as our clients.

Originality

At Kuoda, we don’t rest on our laurels. We are constantly trying to discover new and special experiences that can make our customized tours to South America truly special.

 

Sustainable Tourism and Meaningful Travel

Cultural Responsibility

At Kuoda, we take our ethical and social responsibilities very seriously. We believe that tourism in South America should have a positive impact, which is why we are committed to following ethical practices. Not only do we treat the cultures we visit with humility and reverence, but we also strive to create a two-way dialogue that’s enriching for both visitors and locals. Through sustainable tourism practices, communities can focus anew on their traditions, celebrations, stories and traditional arts, and can devote more resources to maintaining their cultures, heritages and even languages. Our guests have the opportunity to see the world and contribute to it in a way that is more responsible and, ultimately, more rewarding..

Environmental Responsibility

about-us-environment

When it comes to environmental responsibility, we take our cue from the Quechua, the indigenous people of the Andean highlands. They hold a strong belief in the power of Mother Earth, or “Pachamama,” and so do we. We always seek to steer our guests toward culturally authentic experiences that protect and preserve the ecological environment they interact with. Our goal is to have minimal impact on the areas we visit. To ensure we attain this, we only work with trusted providers, suppliers, guides, and accommodations who share our eco-minded beliefs.

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