Machu Picchu Expeditions — Local services in Distrito de Cusco

Trek: 5-Day Salkantay Trek The trek itself is simply wonderful—absolutely stunning nature.

Safety: HIGH SAFETY RISK Several others in the group and I had trouble with the altitude on the first day. When we asked for oxygen, we were shocked to find out—contrary to what is stated on the website—that no oxygen was carried on the trek. We were told we could return to Cusco at our own expense if we were unhappy about it. The guide even claimed that oxygen would only make things worse. It was disappointing and genuinely risky!

GUIDE: Easily the worst guide I’ve ever had. The first day already started with him walking ahead without waiting for the group. This behavior continued throughout the tour. When I asked for a break, he responded with, “Do you want to join a different group?” We visited Humantay Lake and did the hike to Aguas Calientes entirely without him—so essentially half the trek was done without a guide. Instead of supporting us, he left the group to fend for itself. The constant pressure to hurry made the hike anything but relaxing. There was always the fear of being left behind. Ironically, when we reached the camps, we had to wait at least an hour (often more) for meals—so clearly there was no need to rush. But the real low point came on the evening of the third day, when our guide got completely drunk to the point he could barely stand. He stayed up the whole night, being loud, making it nearly impossible for us to sleep—even though we had to get up at 2 AM. Our departure to Hidroelectrica was scheduled for 3 AM, in order to arrive in time to queue for tickets. Instead of organizing the group, we had to manage everything ourselves—and even had to urge the guide to hurry up. In the end, we started nearly 30 minutes late!

Organization: Very disappointing. Our accommodation on the first day wasn’t confirmed until an hour before arrival. The same was the case for our accommodation in aquas calientes which led us to wait for 3-hour in the hotel lobby. Our duffel bags didn’t arrive until 5:30 PM, and we were given no prior notice—so we had no chance to pack the right clothes for the hike. We ended up sweating in our warm morning clothes in 20°C weather. Train tickets were booked only on the day of departure. At first, we were told that only tickets for 10 PM were still available—causing panic among many of us who had paid for 3PM tickets through the MPE website and had travel plans set up accordingly. In the end, a solution was found, but everyone was stressed out.

Accommodations: Our first night's lodging was only confirmed at the last minute. The buildings were okay, but there were no showers, no electricity, and the common room looked unfinished. At 4,000 meters altitude, it was freezing. The rest of the accommodations were good (you get what you pay for).

BE AWARE OF EXTRA COSTS: Transport / Pillows / WiFi / Hot showers / Hot springs / Machu Picchu bus – Expect to pay ~200 soles extra.

The COOK: The cook was amazing! The food was delicious, plentiful, and really well made. 5/5 stars—thank you, Irineo!

Overall: It’s a real shame that we weren’t able to truly enjoy the trek. A deeply disappointing experience, and I absolutely cannot recommend this tour operator.

Update: The answer really shows the lack of service the company offers.

First and foremost, I have taken detailed notes of the briefing and have them handy to proof that none of what you are saying is true. Moreover, I have never complained about the sleeping bag. This is part of the experience.

Regarding the oxygen - every other group tours has it handy. Saying I have asked for the wrong oxygen makes me worry even more about your ability to provide a safe tour.

Lastly, I haven’t claimed the guide to myself nor have complained about the pace of others. All I have asked for was that no one is left behind/ breaks are taken accordingly (which is normal for group tours).

The party excuse is simply a lie. All I can say is, please ask the other group members. They will confirm the condition the...

3/5 stars

I would like to start this comment by saying that we enjoyed experiencing the Salkantay trek with this company, and there are some things worth sharing before booking with them.

For context, my friend and I are two young women who had never been to Peru before this trip. Our first contact with the company was through WhatsApp, where they provided some general information that wasn’t very clear. I would suggest the company create a small PDF guide with all the necessary details, including how to buy Machu Picchu tickets on-site (as was the case for us). To be honest, we only figured that out while actively waiting at the ticket office in Aguas Calientes — which was stressful.

The briefing would have been more useful if the main guide, Abelito, had spoken more fluent English. For example, we were 19 people in the group, and it took several tries to understand him. Considering the price we paid and the fact that the company sold us a bilingual guide, we didn’t feel satisfied.

Be mindful of the weight limit for your bag — they tell you to keep it under 6 kg, including the sleeping bag they provide (which weighs 2 kg). When I weighed mine at the hostel, it showed 6 kg, but when they weighed it with the horsemen who carry the bags, it came out as 8 kg. I had to pay an extra fee of 30 soles (which would be charged daily).

That said, the trails are beautiful, and we were quite pleased with the accommodations (including the food), even though we had to pay extra for hot showers and Wi-Fi. Compared to other companies, we felt our guide didn’t really share much in terms of geographical or historical information about the places we visited, which was really disappointing.

On the second day, there was an option to use horses, which caused some division in the group. Some people didn’t like how the guide presented the difficulty of the ascent. Personally, as someone who wasn’t in peak physical shape, I found it manageable. I went at my own pace and only carried a small bag with the essentials (water, snacks, layers of clothing, etc.). I highly recommend bringing a water pouch and renting hiking poles — they really help! The food was delicious and more than enough for us.

Since my friend and I couldn’t buy our Machu Picchu tickets in advance, we had to skip the fourth day of trekking (which our friends later told us was harder than expected) in order to get to Aguas Calientes early and secure our entry. We went on the third day with some others and the second guide, Nidia. Although her English wasn’t fluent, she was extremely helpful in the buying process and made a real effort to understand us (we used a translation app). She’s truly a sweetheart, and we wish she had stayed with us for the Machu Picchu visit on the fourth day — we felt much more comfortable with her than with the main guide we were assigned.

At Machu Picchu, we were disappointed that the main (and only) guide didn’t provide much information about the history of this iconic site. His commentary was quite generic, and he didn’t make sure everyone was present before sharing the few facts he mentioned.

Overall, we do recommend the Salkantay trek — it’s a beautiful experience — but we believe this company needs to be more professional in several areas, particularly regarding the main guide’s competence and...

I chose this agency based on the glowing reviews, expecting a seamless and memorable trip. Unfortunately, my experience fell short of those expectations, largely due to a combination of organizational issues and a lack of preparation on the part of the guides.

From the outset, problems began to emerge. On the first day, I was provided with a trekking pole that was broken. While the guide kindly lent me their own as a temporary solution, it raised concerns about the agency’s attention to detail in checking equipment before handing it out. Accommodations were another disappointment. They were not as advertised on the website. On the first night, I stayed in a very basic facility with no running water in the bathrooms and a room that leaked during rain. Later, on the third night, instead of the promised domes, we were placed in tents set under a platform.

Communication during the tour was another significant issue. Upon arriving in Agua Caliente, our guide left us without clear instructions on who our next guide would be or how to locate them. We eventually found them by chance in a restaurant, an avoidable situation that caused unnecessary stress.

The visit to Machu Picchu, which should have been the highlight of the trip, was underwhelming. Our guide appeared rushed and left us before completing the circuit. While we saw other groups enjoying in-depth explanations from their guides, we felt we missed out on a fuller appreciation of this incredible site.

Our guide, Ronny, while kind, seemed inexperienced and struggled with English and leadership. Furthermore, there were no contingency plans for unforeseen circumstances, adding to the general disorganization. Transparency also appeared to be lacking. Due to bad weather, we were told that part of the route was inaccessible, but later learned from other travelers that it was indeed passable, leaving us feeling misled.

To add to the logistical challenges, retrieving my backpack at the end of the tour turned into a frustrating ordeal. The agency staff seemed unaware of its whereabouts, and only after much effort did I discover it had been left at a nearby hostel.

One positive aspect of the trip, however, was the food. It was consistently delicious, with a variety of meals that changed daily, offering a welcome element of surprise and enjoyment throughout the journey.

In conclusion, while my experience may have been an unfortunate anomaly, it was marked by poor communication, logistical challenges, and a lack of professionalism. For those considering this agency, I’d recommend confirming all details beforehand and preparing for potential inconveniences along the way. At least the food will likely be a highlight of...