サルカンタイ・トレック＆ユマニタイ湖からマチュピチュまで5日間

I recently finished the trek with a friend. As two young female travelers with limited trekking experience, we couldn't have imagined a better guide or more meaningful adventure than the one we had with David and Peruvian Culture Tours. We chose the classic 5-day Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu. This business is the definition of integrity. Unlike big companies, Peruvian Culture Tours directly helps local families and sustains local cultures. David, who founded the company with his wife, has deep roots in the region, is himself indigenous, and only hires indigenous teams from the region. He also pointed us to various local producers for where to purchase coffee/chocolate etc. He cares so deeply about using Peruvian Culture Tours to lift up his region and puts sustainability–cultural and environmental–at the heart of the business. Everything you could need is included. David carried oxygen and is trained in first aid, we had ample snacks, and were woken up each morning with a cup of coca tea! Every campsite was stunning and incredibly comfortable. The food was amazing, fresh, and abundant!! We left feeling like we had a wonderful new friend/family in our lives. It was truly an experience of a lifetime!! This is a new business and absolutely one worth supporting!! I have traveled extensively and have never met a guide like David. If you’re thinking about doing any trek to Machu Picchu, look no further than David and Peruvian Culture Tours.

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My 5 day trek on the Salkantay trail to Machu Picchu was nothing short of incredible. From the very beginning, the experience was deeply rooted in the local culture and traditions, making it far more than just a physical journey. Our guide, David, a native of the Sacred Valley region, brought the mountains and their history to life through his knowledge of the region’s plants, animals, people, history and culture. He is also just an incredibly inspiring and kind person. We encountered so many different landscapes on one trek: mountains, lakes, glaciers, hills, cloud forests, and jungles. Our guide knew the terrain expertly well, and took us off the beaten path to see hidden sects of wildlife, including Llamas, toucans, and showing us medicinal plants! Peruvian culture tours supports indigenous communities in the region by employing indigenous people, guiding us to sustainable business to purchase things, as well as being run by an indigenous family. David also has a passion for helping the many stray dogs in the area, and donates part of the profits to this effort. As a female solo traveler, I felt incredibly safe, cared for and prepared. David anticipated everything, carried first aid supplies and Oxygen, and was patient with everyone’s pace. The logistics were seamless, and the lodging was very comfortable and they kindly set up the tent each night. The food was beyond delicious, the chef prepared beautiful and elaborate meals with local ingredients. And we were woken up each morning with a hot cup of Coca tea! Everything needed was included, and they didn’t miss a thing. If you're looking for an adventure that goes beyond the typical tourist experience, I can’t recommend this trek enough. It was absolutely worth every penny, and I would recommend Peruvian culture tours to absolutely everyone!

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David from Peruvian culture tours organised my Salkantay 5 day hike extremely well. I did not have to worry about a thing. David had included in the cost hotel booking , bus and train tickets and my pre purchased Machu Picchu ticket. Which many travellers did not have on this hike which added stress to the last days of this trip. David and his wife were very helpful and extremely kind. Beautiful people I felt so grateful.

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No question Peruvian Culture Tours with David is the way to do Salkantay. His business is just starting to take off and there may not be a ton of reviews, but don't let that distract from the fact that David (and PCT) is an awesome professional. I met him on an Amazon expedition before he started Peruvian Culture Tours and was blown away by his genuine passion for his country and its beautiful peoples, cultures, landscapes, and nature. When my friend visited, there was no doubt in my mind we should hike the Salkantay trail with David. And man was our trust in David rewarded. Firstly, the Salkantay trail is beautiful start to finish. I've done a decent amount of backpacking/hiking, and I've never done a trail so diverse and beautiful. From the base of Salkantay to the depths of the Andean cloud forest, there was never a dull sight. And David is the perfect person to guide you and unpack everything to be experienced at every point in the trail. He knows the ins and outs of the trail, as he grew up in a small town near Cusco. He perfectly structured the days so that we were never overwhelmed with the day's route nor bored with only a small walk on any given day. He also has assembled a great family team to take care of all the logistics. Every meal was hot and fresh cooked, the tents were comfortable, and most of your gear is carried by donkey or bus to the next campsite, allowing you to enjoy the trail with minimal gear. Additionally, the price is better than any other company I could find. David is also a true expert in everything related to Salkantay. He can identify every plant and animal encountered over the various terrain. He knows the comprehensive history of the Inca Empire and Quechua people. He also has extensive knowledge of the geography and geology of the area, both past and present. Whatever you're interested in, David can cover it extensively. Finally, David lives his life with an ethical conviction that is deeply admirable. He runs a true family operation where profits help the family, not get funneled into the pockets of rich owners of the larger operations in the area. He also contributes a portion of revenue to his ongoing effort to improve the lives of the large population of stray dogs (big problem in Peru) living in and around Cusco. Bottom line - choosing Peruvian Culture Tours with David is the right decision for every possible reason.

Incredible Salkantay trek with David. My boyfriend and I (23 years old and female) have lived in Peru for nine months and had visited Machu Picchu twice before going just now with David post-trek. I am incredibly inspired by his enthusiasm and passion for work. A private salkantay trek with David is cheaper and more individualized than any other company I had researched. Instead of being in a group of 25, left miles behind the guide on the trail, David was with my group of three every step of the way. Every day we woke up with a steaming cup of coca tea. The pace of the trek was set by you, and David was always providing insight into animals and plants which other guides were clearly skipping. On the third day we went to the thermal baths, which was also a great experience. Daily snacks were provided as well as an unlimited amount of water. We learned about quechua traditions (current and old) and ate absolutely delicious food. His english, spanish, and quechua are perfect as well. I sincerely could not recommend Peruvian Culture tours more!!

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