A Cusco-based operator, twelve years on the trail.

Most websites selling Machu Picchu tours don't operate them. They take your booking, take a commission, and pass the actual work to a Peruvian operator you'll never meet directly. We're that operator. We've decided to sell directly, on our terms.

What we actually do

We are a licensed Peruvian tour operator (MINCETUR registered, AATC member) headquartered in the historic center of Cusco. Our team includes certified bilingual guides, drivers, cooks, and porters — all employed directly or working with us on long-term contracts.

We design itineraries, secure permits, manage train and entry tickets, drive the vehicles, lead the tours, prepare camp meals, and answer your WhatsApp messages — all under one roof. When something goes wrong (weather, train strikes, altitude issues), the same team that designed your trip is the team solving the problem at 11 PM.

Why Cusco-based matters

If you've shopped for Machu Picchu tours online, you've seen prices ranging from $80 (clearly scams) to $1,500 per day (luxury operators). Most of what you see in the middle isn't an operator — it's a marketplace. Booking platforms based in the US, UK, or Europe charge a 30-50% markup over what the actual Peruvian operator charges, and they have no skin in the game when your trip has problems.

We operate the tours ourselves. There is no markup chain. The price you see on this site is the price the actual people leading your tour are paid. This means we can offer either better prices than international platforms, or better service for the same price — usually both.

We've been doing this since 2014. Every member of our guide team grew up in Cusco or surrounding villages. Most of our porters and cooks have been with us for 5+ years. That continuity is what makes the difference between a tour that runs on autopilot and a tour where someone genuinely cares whether you have a good time. — The Founding Team

Our certifications

Every legitimate Peruvian tour operator is registered with MINCETUR (the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Tourism), holds an operator license number, and maintains specific insurance requirements. We hold all of these, and additionally belong to AATC (Asociación de Agencias de Turismo del Cusco).

The team

We're small by design. Roughly 18 full-time staff and another 20–30 seasonal porters during high-season Inca Trail months. Everyone you'll meet on your tour is someone we know personally. We've turned down growth offers that would have required outsourcing — because outsourcing is precisely what we exist to be an alternative to.

What we don't do

• We don't resell. If you book with us, we run your tour. We don't subcontract to other operators.
• We don't use booking platforms. No Viator. No GetYourGuide. No TripAdvisor checkout. Direct contact through WhatsApp or email.
• We don't hide costs. The price you're quoted includes everything you'll pay us. Optional add-ons are clearly separated.
• We don't push add-ons. If you don't need a hotel upgrade or an extra activity, we'll tell you. Our reputation is worth more than a $30 commission.
• We don't operate at scale we can't deliver. Max group size on most tours is 12. On the Inca Trail it's 8. This is by choice.

A note on price

We aren't the cheapest option on the Cusco market. Operators offering Inca Trail at $450 or Salkantay at $300 are achieving those prices by either underpaying porters, skipping insurance, or using shared services that you're not told about. Our prices reflect what it actually costs to run these tours with proper porter wages, real insurance, professional guides, and quality equipment.

We're also not the most expensive. Luxury operators charging $1,800+ for the Inca Trail are largely paying for a brand premium. We aim for the honest middle: what good tours actually cost, plus a reasonable margin to keep the lights on and pay our team properly.