Peru Travel Tips & Local Insights

Pisco Sour: Classic recipe of Peru's national drink

Updated on: 27 August 2026

The Pisco Sour is Peru’s signature cocktail, made with pisco, the country's national spirit. This refreshing and well balanced drink combines freshly squeezed lime juice, simple syrup, egg white, a few ice cubes, and several drops of Angostura bitter…

The best Machu Picchu hikes | TreXperience

Best Machu Picchu Hikes: Routes & Travel Guide

Updated on: 20 August 2026

Are you planning a trek to Machu Picchu? If you are still unsure which route to choose, this guide compares the main treks to Machu Picchu, including the Inca Trail, Salkantay, Lares, Ausangate, Choquequirao, and Inca Jungle.You will find information…

Caral Civilization: The Oldest Culture in the Americas

Published on: 20 August 2026

The Caral civilization offers a glimpse into a very early period of Peru’s history, long before the development of other major Andean societies. Its age, monumental buildings, and the discoveries made in the Supe Valley have raised many questions abo…

Machu Picchu in September | TreXperience

Machu Picchu in September: Complete Travel Guide

Updated on: 19 August 2026

Traveling to Machu Picchu in September can raise some concerns for travelers. September marks a transition from the dry season to the rainy season. During this month, you may experience casual brief showers in the afternoons, along with the occasiona…

Reviews

nadikamohn August 25, 2026

An Unforgettable Salkantay Trek Experience

The four-day Salkantay trek to Machu Picchu was an intense but incredibly beautiful experience. Despite struggling with the altitude at first, I felt very supported by the team and especially appreciated our guide, Anthony. Eufemio and Eliseo prepared amazing food throughout the trek, giving us lots of energy and a lovely insight into the local culture and cuisine. I’m very grateful for the experience and for the opportunity to discover the Andes in such a special way. I also really appreciated that TreXperience works with local people from the region, which made the whole journey feel authentic and safe. Communication in English worked very well throughout the trip. Thank you to the whole team for this unforgettable experience!

View full review Read on TripAdvisor

Alex August 11th, 2026

4-Day Classic Inca Trail to Machu Picchu – Small Group & Vistadome Train

★★★★★

An incredible once-in-a-lifetime experience! Trexperience were phenomenal from start to finish - our guides, Danny and Daniel, head porter, Benedict and head chef, Leandro, and all the porters were fantastic. Highly recommend!

View full review Read on TourRadar

Maria del Pilar M Aug 27, 2026

Maria del Pilar Martinez

Dear TreXperience Team, Now that we have completed our trek, we wanted to provide some candid feedback about our experience. There were parts of the trip that we genuinely appreciated, but overall, we do not feel that the experience delivered the level of service, organization, or value we expected from a trip marketed and priced as “luxury.” We originally booked the Luxury Inca Trail and understand that the trail closure itself was outside TreXperience’s control. However, we were disappointed by how the change was communicated and managed. We felt we were advised quite late that the Inca Trail would not be available, and the shorter Luxury Salkantay Trek was initially presented to us as though we were receiving a significant discount. We later learned that the regular price of the Salkantay trip was already lower than the Inca Trail price. That distinction should have been communicated clearly from the outset. Communication also became increasingly frustrating as we approached our departure date. WhatsApp responses were often slow, including a period of more than 15 hours when we were trying to determine whether an earlier train could be arranged. When we first requested the earlier train, the response emphasized that we might have to pay additional charges rather than helping us understand the available options. We are therefore very pleased and appreciative that the earlier train to Ollantaytambo was ultimately arranged. There also seemed to be some disorganization within the office. Payment was requested quite late, despite the fact that we could have paid in person once we arrived in Cusco. Our bags were labelled with the name of the wrong guide, and Juan was told that I had not submitted a copy of Tim’s expired passport, even though I had, requiring me to send it again. We also think TreXperience could provide considerably better advice about pre- and post-trek logistics. We were travelling onward to Cusco after the trek, yet our original train was not scheduled to leave Aguas Calientes until 4:20 p.m. for Ollantaytambo, followed by a lengthy road transfer. For travellers continuing to Cusco, advice about the most efficient train and transfer options would be very useful when the trip is being planned rather than only when the guest raises the issue. There were also a number of aspects of the trek itself that did not meet our expectations of a luxury experience. On the morning of departure, breakfast was disappointing. The food appeared to have been sitting for some time and the coffee was cold. The guides and team also ate separately from us, which felt somewhat disconnected for the start of a private four-day experience. On the first night, it was extremely cold. Although the tent itself had been erected when we arrived, our bed had not yet been set up, so we had to wait in the cold while this was completed. The second campsite was particularly disappointing given that it had been described as a luxury campsite. It was essentially located in the backyard of a local home. A rooster began crowing at approximately 2:00 a.m., again around 4:00 a.m., and repeatedly thereafter. We could also hear loud noise from what sounded like young people partying nearby. More importantly, the bathroom facilities were not clean. There was fecal matter on the toilet rim and the shower was very dirty. This was certainly not consistent with what we would consider a luxury camping experience. We were also initially surprised on the first day when Juan told us that if we wanted additional drinking water, we could purchase it ourselves. Water was subsequently provided throughout the trek, which we appreciated, but the initial message was confusing and did not seem consistent with the level of inclusiveness we expected from a luxury package. Similarly, when the coffee experience was discussed the third day we were told that we needed to purchase coffee in order to participate in the explanation of the coffee-bean process. On a trip of this cost, small experiences like this should be included rather than creating another expectation to spend money. One of our strongest concerns was our overall experience with Juan’s communication style. We found him overly persistent and, at times, quite aggressive in the way he raised certain issues, particularly tipping and completing the evaluation. At the briefing, Juan told us that tipping is expected in Peru and stated that guides should receive 10% of the cost of the trip. He then went through expected tips for the different members of the trekking team. This contradicted both the information we had previously received from TreXperience and the guidance on your website. We found this approach very uncomfortable. We absolutely understand and support tipping for good service, and we did tip the team, but gratuities should remain discretionary. The repeated emphasis on expected amounts made us feel pressured and took away from what should have been a positive experience. Juan was also very persistent about us completing the evaluation after the trek, sending several messages asking us to do so. Taken together, these interactions left us feeling that there was too much pressure placed on us as guests. We want to be fair in noting that Juan is extremely knowledgeable about the region, the route and the history of Machu Picchu and gave good advice about taking our time and breathing through our nose. Our concern is not his knowledge or expertise, but rather the manner in which some of these interactions were handled. We do want to recognize the people who contributed positively to our experience. Lourdes was extremely friendly and clearly wanted us to be comfortable. She repeatedly offered to help, made coca tea for us in the mornings, and provided hot-water bottles for both nights we slept outside. We appreciated her kindness very much. At the same time, there appeared to be an imbalance in the guiding responsibilities. Lourdes did not know very much about the Sun Gate and indicated that Juan would explain it, which was surprising given that we had two guides. The chef, assistants, horseman and massage assistant were all very kind, and we appreciated their efforts throughout the trek. We are also extremely pleased that TreXperience was ultimately able to provide us with access to Circuit 1 and the Sun Gate in addition to our other Machu Picchu circuit. This was very important to us given that we had originally booked the Inca Trail, and we sincerely appreciate the effort that went into arranging it. Thank you as well for arranging the earlier train and for the lunch on our final day. The buffet was very good and was a pleasant way to finish the trip. Ultimately, however, we came away feeling that the overall experience did not justify its very high cost. We are a family of modest means and saved specifically for this trip because we believed the “luxury” option would provide an exceptional once-in-a-lifetime experience. In retrospect, we would have felt much better choosing a regular group trek, or potentially travelling with another company, rather than investing so much in the luxury package. We hope you will take this feedback seriously. We are not raising these concerns because everything about the trip was negative—it was not. There were wonderful people involved, spectacular scenery, and several things TreXperience did for us that we genuinely appreciated. But when a company charges a substantial premium for a luxury experience, the accommodation, cleanliness, organization, communication, inclusions and overall guest experience need to consistently reflect that premium. We would appreciate hearing your response to our concerns and how TreXperience intends to address these issues for future guests. Best regards, Pilar Martinez

View full review Read on WeTravel

AxelB_SC August 25, 2026

A trip worth getting up early

We loved our trip to Machu Picchu with the two guides Thony and Roberto. To experience this World Wonder by walking on the original ancient path is absolutely worth the muscle ache on the next day. Before the trip we got a detailed briefing explaining everything that we needed to know and to pack. Furthermore, the pick-up and drop-off from our apartement went smoothly. After the train ride to km 104 and a nice breakfast we started the hike to Machu Picchu. As we were around 15 people we went with two guides which allowed everyone to walk at their own speed. The lunch provided was very tasty and even though it rained, the first view of Machu Picchu was spectacular. The tour through the site on the second day was super interesting. Our tour guide Thony enthusiastically explained everything from the history of the buildings to Inca Culture and Mythology - it was a very authentic insight in Perus indigenous history. In total, we are very happy that we went to Machu Picchu with Trexperience. Both guides were very experienced, friendly and funny.

Dominique July 27th, 2026

Salkantay Trek 5 Days to Machu Picchu with Vistadome Train

Great guide, very well-organized trip

Nicole S Aug 27, 2026

Balance TS26005357

We had a great time, Nice group. Our guides, Garry and Fernando were great. The food was very good. The porters do an amazing job!

Patricia G August 25, 2026

Sacred Valley Tour

Juan was our guide and he’s extremely nice and helpful! He made sure we have a smooth pickup and dropoff, and will make sure you get to your destination on time. He’s also very knowledgeable and from Cusco, so he knows a lot of the history and gave really good introductions.

Annie July 11th, 2026

A wonderful experience. A well-organized tour. A professional guide. An incredible team

NURIA G Aug 27, 2026

NURIA GONZALO X3

El viaje ha sido estupendo, todo bien organizado y siempre nos han ayudado ante cualquier duda, los hoteles han estado bien, el de Puerto Maldonado una pasada, nos encantó todo. Edy, nuestro guía en el camino del Inca es muy profesional, un gran guía! Hizo que nuestra experiencia fuera mucho mejor. Recomendaría la agencia sin duda!

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Pisco Sour: Classic recipe of Peru's national drink

Best Machu Picchu Hikes: Routes & Travel Guide

Caral Civilization: The Oldest Culture in the Americas

Machu Picchu in September: Complete Travel Guide

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Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu: Complete Guide 2026

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