About Us

Active Trekking – local tour operator in cusco

Active Trekking is a small, local company based in the city of Cusco. We design meaningful trekking adventures, encourage responsible travel, and support fair tourism practices throughout the Andes.

Our journey began in 2017, when a group of local guides and former porters decided to create a company that followed honest values and treated everyone with respect. Many of us entered the tourism world back in 2004 while studying at the university in Cusco.

We started our careers as porters on the Inca Trail, later worked as cooks, and eventually became professional guides. A few members of our team also spent several years working in hospitality in the United States and Australia. This helped us improve our language skills, learn high-quality service standards, and better understand what travelers look for when visiting Peru.

We have led thousands of visitors along the most iconic paths to Machu Picchu and have worked with well-known tour companies in Cusco. Over the years, we witnessed situations where profit mattered more than people, and porters were not always treated fairly. These experiences motivated us to build a company that puts respect, honesty, and care first.

Active Trekking was created to offer more than a simple tour. We want each trek to help you reconnect with nature, learn about Andean traditions, and enjoy delicious meals prepared with love and local ingredients.

We care deeply about the environment and the communities around us. Our team organizes trail clean-up days, reforestation projects, and supports a small community library where children can access computers, books, and learning tools. For us, sustainable tourism and education are powerful ways to create long-term change.

We offer several trekking routes to Machu Picchu, including the Inca Trail, Salkantay trek, Lares trek, and a short 2-day Inca Trail option. Everyone in the Active Trekking family is from Cusco or the Sacred Valley, giving you a truly local and authentic experience.

“100% Peruvian company” is a phrase used often in tourism. Many businesses say it, but not all of them are truly local or independent. Some have foreign owners or outside partners, which is not wrong, but it is different from being genuinely Peruvian-owned.

Active Trekking is fully local. We were born here, raised here, and we manage everything from here. When you travel with us, you support local families and community projects.

We could have chosen foreign partnerships like many other companies do to grow faster. Instead, we chose a slower, honest path: building our business step by step with our own work, resources, and ideas.

We believe that success does not come from big investors. It comes from loving what you do, caring about your guests, and supporting your team. That is what we focus on every day.

From the moment we welcomed our first traveler, we made a promise: every guest who hikes with us should feel as special as that very first one.

Who we are

We organize group tours, private tours, luxury treks, and train journeys, all created with our own personal touch. We run all classic Machu Picchu experiences—from long treks to short adventures and cultural visits.

Our tours feel different because we include traditions and details that many companies overlook. We offer authentic Pachamanca meals, use panoramic trains, and provide high-quality camping gear for greater comfort on the trail. With us, you experience Peru like a local, not just a visitor.

Active Trekking is owned and led by Quechua families from villages near Cusco and the Sacred Valley.

Our local guides and founders

I was born in the village of Cachiccata, near Ollantaytambo. I studied tourism in Cusco and have guided countless groups to Machu Picchu. I know the trails by heart because my career started from the bottom—as a porter, then a cook, and finally a guide. This experience taught me every detail needed to run safe and unforgettable trips.

I now manage operations at Active Trekking, though I still return to the mountains to guide from time to time. Over the years, I have learned that real leadership means understanding the work, listening to the team, and making sure every traveler enjoys a memorable experience.

Community, environment, and porter support

Many travelers ask how Active Trekking began. The truth is simple: our team has spent years exploring the mountains, laughing through rainstorms, and helping travelers discover the beauty of Peru. Our company was born from a love of nature, a passion for our culture, and a desire to create fair tourism.

One of our key team members grew up in Cachiccata. She is a schoolteacher and yoga instructor who loves sharing knowledge about Andean traditions. She leads our social programs, porter training, and environmental projects. You will often meet her during community visits or while she teaches relaxing yoga sessions along the trails.

Why book with a local tour operator?

Peru and Cusco have thousands of travel agencies—from large companies to international booking platforms. Choosing a small, local operator like Active Trekking makes a real difference:

Your money stays in Peru and supports the communities you visit instead of going to international headquarters.
You receive better value because we invest directly in your trip: quality equipment, great food, and thoughtful experiences.
Local companies usually offer better wages to guides, cooks, and porters, helping us keep the best team.
We create unique routes and experiences that only locals can offer.
If anything goes wrong, you speak directly with the owners, and we solve the problem quickly.
We are one of the few local companies offering panoramic trains and traditional Pachamanca meals on our alternative treks.

Commitment to excellence

Active Trekking values

Welcome every guest and staff member like family.
Connect with travelers and communities with warmth and respect.
Prioritize safety and well-being above everything else.
Work with skilled local professionals—guides, cooks, porters, and drivers.
Create experiences that blend nature, culture, trekking, food, and fun.

Active Trekking goals

Our mission is to create unforgettable journeys for every traveler. We constantly look for new ways to grow and improve.

Active Trekking will always:

Offer unique trekking adventures to Machu Picchu and the Andes.
Promote responsible travel that protects nature and supports local villages.
Provide excellent equipment, fresh meals, and real cultural experiences.
Work with the most dedicated guides, cooks, and porters.
Support fair and safe working conditions for porters.
Help local communities through long-term sustainable programs.
Recycle and clean the trails we walk to protect the mountains.
Reduce risks through training and careful planning.

Active Trekking – porter welfare

With many years in tourism, we understand that satisfied guests begin with a well-supported team. When our staff feels respected, they can give travelers their very best. We know guides and cooks play important roles, but porters are the true strength behind every trek.

Porters have carried the tourism industry on their shoulders for generations. Many have fought for fair conditions, and their stories are part of our own history. Our founders were once porters, just like their parents. Their hard work helped them study, travel, and eventually build this company.

Because of this, Active Trekking is committed to:

Providing simple housing in Cusco for porters who travel far from their communities.
Offering all meals during the trek as a basic thank-you for their dedication.
Supplying high-quality gear such as warm jackets, shirts, hiking boots, pants, back support, backpacks, sleeping bags, sleeping pads, and insurance.
Working with the most vulnerable rural communities, including Lares, Ocongate, and Paucartambo, where jobs can help families send their children to school.
Hiring a large team of porters year-round and increasing job opportunities during high season.