I am a Canadian who travelled with three other Canadians using Machu Picchu Team (MPT) for the 5‑day Salkantay Trek. Our guides were Aurelio and Elisban, and a second MPT group travelled alongside us led by Marco. We also did the Sacred Valley driving tour, organized - though it hosted by - MPT. The trek took place in mid‑April, during the transition between the region's rainy and dry seasons.
Altitude note: The trek reaches high altitudes, including Salkantay Pass at roughly 4,600 metres (15,000 feet). The guides were excellent at helping everyone acclimatize, reminding us to hydrate, and pacing the group appropriately.
To say we had a positive experience would be a significant understatement. The guides were beyond friendly, attentive, and accommodating. They were also exceptionally knowledgeable about the region, its history, local customs, wildlife, and more.
Memorable moments:
- Machu Picchu: The weather was rainy, and visibility came and went as clouds rapidly formed and dissipated. Aurelio was incredibly patient, giving our group plenty of time to let Mother Nature do her thing. He made sure we got all the photos and information we wanted while waiting for those frequent but short windows of clarity.
- Train breakdown (not MPT's fault): After Machu Picchu, we took the Vistadome train, which unfortunately broke down. The delays meant we might miss our connecting bus back to Cusco. Our MPT guides stayed in constant communication with us and went the extra mile to ensure the bus waited for us. Despite the major timing setback, the MPT team made sure we arrived safe and sound—no one got stranded. Their communication during that stressful time was exceptional.
- Wranglers (unsung heroes): On Day 2—the trek to the pass—there is an option to pay for a horse ride to the top (you still hike down, fair warning). The wranglers got up extra early to corral the horses so that everyone who wanted or needed assistance could be taken care of. I saw some of this wrangling with my own eyes; it is truly exhausting work. This is all to say that the MPT team extends far beyond the guides and cooks. The whole team worked exceptionally hard to ensure everything ran smoothly.
Food: The food prepared by the MPT chefs never once disappointed. Everything was delicious, portions were generous, and the meals provided the perfect fuel to keep our energy high and our bellies full.
The guides care: They bent over backwards to ensure everyone completed the trek safely, and they went above and beyond to meet every person's needs. They were patient, making sure no one fell behind, and they were very transparent about what to expect on each leg of the trek.
Words of wisdom for future trekkers:
I strongly recommend bringing the following:
- Good hiking shoes (ideally waterproof)
- A headlamp for early mornings
- Waterproof clothes and dry bags (a hiking backpack with waist/chest straps is highly recommended)
- Toilet paper, wet wipes, and hand sanitizer
- Battery packs (electricity can be hit or miss due to landslides affecting camp power)
- Sunscreen
- Snacks of your own for mid‑hike fuel
- A healthy stockpile of Peruvian Soles in cash, including lots of small bills and change. Most pit stops along the trek are run by locals who do not accept cards and may not be able to break large bills.
Lastly, I strongly recommend some conditioning before the trek, as Days 1, 2, and 4 are particularly long and physically demanding.
Overall, our time with MPT was amazing, and I cannot recommend their services enough. I don't typically leave reviews, but the service was so excellent that I would be doing everyone a disservice by not sharing my experience and wholeheartedly endorsing MPT.
