Noma Collective
Worst trip ever
Worst trip ever. I had traveled with Noma Collective multiple times before, but my Cusco/Machu Picchu trip was so poorly run that it will likely be my last.
I paid around $2,500 AFTER a discount for one week for myself and my girlfriend, and the value was nowhere close to what was delivered. The Cusco accommodation appeared to be listed online for a fraction of what we paid, and when we arrived, it felt dirty, disappointing, and far below the standard I expected from Noma. The Machu Picchu accommodation was even worse. It was a run down, dirty, hostel and the bathroom smelled strongly of urine. I chose not to shower because the bathroom felt that unsanitary. Couldn’t even find the place on Google maps or any listings so not even sure how they managed to book such a crappy spot.
The most unacceptable part was the disorganization around Machu Picchu itself. This was the entire reason people booked the trip, yet many people in the group did not even have confirmed tickets to enter. For a company selling a Machu Picchu experience, that level of poor planning is shocking. It created stress, uncertainty, and frustration across the group instead of excitement.
Noma markets itself as a curated travel community, but this trip felt more like an overpriced, poorly managed package thrown together without the level of care a bucket-list destination deserves. The community aspect they sell was completely damaged because the main thing people bonded over was how bad the experience was.
You only get one first time visiting Machu Picchu. Noma turned what should have been a once-in-a-lifetime trip into a stressful, disappointing, and overpriced mess.
After five trips with Noma, I expected much better. Based on this experience, I would strongly caution anyone against booking with them, especially for a major destination where poor planning can ruin the entire trip.