Inca Trail Explorers was born from a simple but powerful conviction: the Inca Trail deserves operators who truly know it.
Founded by Cusco guides who grew up in the shadow of the Andean snow peaks, our company arose from the frustration of seeing how many agencies treated the Inca Trail as “just another tour” in their service catalog.
We believed that this sacred route — the same trail that the ancient Incas walked, the path that connects Peru’s living history with Machu Picchu — deserved specialists dedicated exclusively to it.
Our founders started as porters and guides in the 90s. They knew the Inca Trail from the inside: the exhausting climbs, the freezing nights, the excitement of seeing the sunrise at Intipunku.
They also knew the industry’s problems: agencies that promised more than they delivered, underpaid porters, disappointed tourists. They knew they could do better.
In 2008, with the experience of hundreds of accumulated treks, they decided to create a different agency — one that would only do the Inca Trail, but would do it better than anyone.
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🗓 2008 — Founded with 3 guides and 12 porters
🗓 2015 — Launch of the Porter Promise
🗓 2018 — Integration into My Peru Destinations Group
🗓 2020 — Pandemic pause, but we kept our entire team
🗓 2021 — Return with improved protocols
🗓 2023 — More than 15,000 travelers have trusted us
🗓 2024 — Launch of 3 service segments: Explorer, Adventure, Summit
🗓 2026 — We continue growing, without losing our identity
In a market with hundreds of agencies offering the Inca Trail, what makes us special?
We only do the Inca Trail. Nothing else.
While other agencies offer tours to the Sacred Valley, Lake Titicaca, the Amazon jungle and everything imaginable, we do one thing: the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu. Our guides specialize exclusively in this route. Our equipment is dedicated entirely to it. Our attention is 100% focused on your experience.
The result: we know every stone, every climb, every campsite, every sunrise. We don’t improvise. We perfect.
We were born here. We grew up here. We know this land like no one else.
Our entire team is from Cusco and the Sacred Valley: guides born in Andean communities, porters from Ollantaytambo, Chinchero, Pisac and Urubamba, cooks expert in traditional Andean gastronomy. We are not a Lima or foreign company that “operates” in Cusco. We are Cusco.
This means we speak Quechua in addition to Spanish and English, we know the legends and traditions firsthand, and every dollar you spend with us stays in the local community.
Ethical treatment of our team is not marketing. It is conviction.
We created the Porter Promise long before it was trendy to talk about responsible tourism. We did it because it was the right thing to do. Our 7 commitments — fair wages, weight limits, complete equipment, equal food, medical insurance, continuous training and total transparency — are verifiable by you during every trek.
→ Learn more in our Porter Promise section
We are not intermediaries. We operate directly.
Many agencies you see online do not run their own treks — they sell and then subcontract to local operators, often at the lowest possible price. We are the operator. Our own guides. Our own porters. Our own cooks. Our own equipment. No intermediaries means better price, better quality and better service.
The solidity of a large group with the personalized service of a boutique company.
Since 2018 we are part of My Peru Destinations Group, a Peruvian tourism corporation with 17 specialized brands. This gives us financial stability, audited corporate standards and a support network across Peru — while we continue to operate independently with our own identity and our own passion for the Inca Trail.
Not everyone is looking for the same thing. That’s why we offer options.
Explorer — For backpackers and budget-conscious travelers. Everything necessary, no luxuries. Adventure — For most travelers. The best value for money on the Inca Trail. Summit — For honeymoons and special celebrations. An unforgettable luxury experience.
All three segments share the essentials: official permits, expert guides and Porter Promise certification. The difference is in the extras and comfort level.
To offer the most authentic, safe and ethical Inca Trail to Machu Picchu experience, operated by Cusqueños who know and love this sacred route, while generating a positive impact on Andean communities.
To be recognized as the reference Inca Trail operator — the one informed travelers choose when they want the best experience, the one other agencies admire for its standards, and the one local communities value as a genuine partner.
AUTHENTICITY — We don’t invent stories or exaggerate promises. What we say is what we do. What we show is what we are.
EXCELLENCE — We obsess over details. From the quality of tents to the taste of soup, everything matters.
RESPECT — For the mountain that hosts us. For the heritage we protect. For the travelers who trust us. For the team that makes every trek possible.
RESPONSIBILITY — We understand that our actions impact people and communities. We take that impact seriously.
PASSION — We are not here just for business. We are here because we love the Inca Trail and want to share that passion with you.
All our guides are born in Cusco or the Sacred Valley, certified by DIRCETUR, certified in mountain first aid, bilingual in Spanish and English (many also speak Quechua), and have completed a minimum of 50 treks before guiding alone. They are continuously trained in history, culture and service.
The heart of every trek. Without them, nothing would be possible. 45+ porters work regularly with us, all from Sacred Valley communities, all under the standards of the Porter Promise: salaries 30% above the industry standard, complete equipment provided, medical insurance included, and real growth opportunities — many of our current guides started as porters.
The food on the Inca Trail is legendary, and our cooks are the reason why. Specialized in high-mountain field cooking, trained in hygiene and food handling, experts in adapting menus to special diets. “It’s amazing what they can cook at 4,000 meters altitude with a field kitchen” — a review we hear often, and one we are proud of.
In Cusco, a dedicated team works to make your experience perfect: personalized reservations with response in less than 24 hours, full logistics coordination, 24/7 emergency support during your trek, and follow-up after your adventure.
Since 2018, Inca Trail Explorers is part of My Peru Destinations Group — a Peruvian corporation that believes in specialization. Instead of one mega-agency that does everything in a mediocre way, the group brings together 17 independent brands that each do one thing excellently.
For you, this means stability and trust, corporate-level standards, and access to complementary services across Peru if you need them. But when you trek with us, you are with our team, our values and our passion — not a franchise.
Are you really direct operators or intermediaries? We are direct operators. Our guides, porters, cooks and equipment are our own. We do not subcontract to third parties. When you book with us, we operate your trek.
Are all your guides from Cusco? Yes. All our guides were born and raised in Cusco or the Sacred Valley. We do not hire guides from other regions. We believe authenticity comes from knowing the land firsthand.
Why do you only do the Inca Trail and not other tours? Because we believe in specialization. We prefer to be the best at one thing than mediocre at many. If you are looking for other tours in Peru, we can connect you with other brands in our group.
How many years of experience do you have? As a company, since 2008. But our founders and senior guides have 20–25+ years of experience on the Inca Trail. Collectively, our team has completed more than 5,000 treks.
What does it mean that you are part of My Peru Destinations Group? It means we have the backing of a larger corporate group, which gives us stability and resources. But we operate independently with our own team and our own identity. We are not a franchise.
Now you know who we are. The next step is to let us show you what we do.
“We don’t sell tours. We share our heritage.” — Inca Trail Explorers Team
