We just got back from an incredible 5 day / 4 night private trek to Choquequirao. We wanted to trek away from the crowds of Machu Picchu, and we found exactly what we were looking for. We had a team of 4: G (our guide), Esteban (head chef), Feliciano (assistant chef), and Henry (our porter and horseman). They made the entire experience unforgettable. G met us the night before at our hotel in Cuzco to walk us through what to expect, and the next morning they picked us up right on time at 4:30 a.m. for the 4-hour drive to the trailhead. When we got there, Esteban and Feliciano made us a delicious hot breakfast, and that set the tone for the week — we ate so well. And the views from breakfast were like being in a scene from The Sound of Music. Every single day felt special. G was an incredible guide — so knowledgeable on the Inca culture and history. He was super patient and encouraging, especially on the tougher hiking days (looking at you day 2 with switchbacks all the way up!), and always made sure we had water and whatever we needed. We felt really taken care of. Henry was such a hard worker. Every morning started with warm water to wash our faces and hot tea delivered to our tent (which were a luxury!). He worked so hard, always with a smile, and was just a lovely presence to have around. While we had breakfast, Henry would take down our tent, another luxury and everyday after we finished our hike and came to our new campsite, our tent would be up and Henry would deliver hot water to us to clean up immediately and refresh ourselves. Note: You do not need to bring any of your own snacks on this trip! Esteban and Feliciano were the BEST chef and assistant chef one could hope for. The meals were healthy, colorful, full of fresh veggies and fruit — and there were fun surprises too, like fresh donuts at tea time and even a cake with “Peru” written in icing. They seriously thought of everything. We never went hungry — breakfast, lunch, dinner, tea time, snacks for the hike — they kept us full and happy the entire time. When we travel, we usually travel to eat and explore the local culture that way, but on a Trek of this sort, we weren't expecting to eat so well. This was a delightful surprise, I was obsessed with our team, and our chefs made our morning, noon and night. One of the highlights was the traditional Peruvian BBQ on the final day — such a fun way to end the trip. And maybe the most amazing part: they hiked two hours to meet us inside Choquequirao with a private picnic. Having a team so dedicated to making your trip special left us speechless. TreXperience is incredibly lucky to have this team. We felt supported, cared for, and totally spoiled the entire week. If you’re thinking about doing this trek — go, and ask for G, Esteban, Feliciano, and Henry. You’ll be in the best hands.

Katia was Ana amazing tour guide and made the experience really enjoyable! Everything was well timed without being rushed.

The Salkantay trail is about the challenge of the altitude while appreciating the beauty of the mountains and it did not disappoint. Our guides, Julio and Alexis did an amazing job helping everyone to be successful in handling the altitude as well as the cold temps when camping near the glacier. Julio is definitely one of the best guides and wrangled the team to be ready on “international time” so not to miss any of the key events, including spectacular sunrises over Machu Picchu. They were knowledgeable not only in safety, but Peruvian/ Inca history, and local flora/ fauna. They were happy to take pictures (which was frequent and a nice touch) or answer questions while guiding us through the Andes. They worked with an amazing support staff as well. The cook, Ismael, (who was always happy) and his sous chef made delicious food in any space, while the horseman and porters got our stuff to the next location. In fact, while touring Cusco, Arequipa, and Lima thereafter, we realized Ismael had served us most of the Peruvian staples … while in the wild! The waiter, who is studying to be a guide, did a great job too! We appreciate the service and hospitality and recommend TreXperience for this adventure to all our friends!