Porter welfare is crucial to Llama Path’s values and philosophy. We understand that well-treated porters are essential to providing excellent service, and ensuring you have a great trek. We provide good quality equipment, uniforms, a fair and legal wage, and insurance for all our porters. This ensures their well-being, as well as the well-being of their families and the communities they come from. The root of our social commitment comes from the Inca concept of Ayni. Ayni is the idea that if you give something with no expectation of receiving something in return, the person who benefits will one day be in the position where they can give to someone else, so the whole community benefits.
Fredy is our head porter, and is in charge of making sure that all our porters are well-equipped and properly looked after, so they are fit and ready to head out on the trail whenever required. Fredy is one of the longest standing members of the Llama Path staff, having worked with Jose right from the outset, and is a crucial member of the team. Although as a guest you probably won't meet him, Fredy is always there in the background making sure your tour runs smoothly.
Our chefs are, quite literally, culinary geniuses, able to whip up some of the tastiest food you'll have on your whole trip. In isolated enviroments and harsh conditions, the delicious food they prepare will never cease to amaze you.
The food on Llama Path treks is a mixture of traditional Andean food, alongside western style dishes. We can accommodate any dietary requests, including vegetarian and vegan meals. We assure you that you will not go hungry, and will have plenty of sustenance and energy throughout the trek.
Jorge: The food was fabulous and plentiful. Three course meals were provided at lunch and dinner. They accommodated two strict vegetarians and one person who was gluten and dairy free in our group of six. There was pumpkin, quinoa and potato soups, a two layer chocolate cake, pudding, platters of food (3-4) each meal. I only ate breakfast one of the 4 days and one dinner of the 3 days because lunch was more than enough food for me.
Carmelo: Every time we got to the camp for lunch or dinner, he had snacks and drinks ready for you. The food on the Inca Trail was by far the best food of my vacation. The food was delicious and there was so much, we were all amazed how Carmello the cook and one assistant, could cook all this on a camping stove and carry everything too.
Dennis: We had a fantastic time on this trek -partly because of the incredible food from Dennis the chef and his assistant - all three and four course meals with plentiful snacks. I'm lactose intolerant and they catered for my needs perfectly, even creating an amazing dairy free chocolate fudge cake as a surprise.
Melchor: I'm still dreaming about the amazing food Chef Melchor and his team were whipping up.
Santos, the cook, and the horsemen went ahead to set up camp for us, and cook us the most amazing meals – 5 course, restaurant quality meals with the freshest ingredients. and they also cater to anyone who has food allergies or specific diets.
Sebastian, the food! Gourmet meals on the trail? Yes please! Our chef Sebastian was a “magician in the kitchen!” We ate some of the best meals while on the trail!
Cesar: The food was amazing (especially for being in the middle of no-where)! Lots of meat, potatoes, rice, vegetables. They even made breakfast omelets, and pizza once. This is a trip of the lifetime and this is the company to go with ! :)
Cirilo: The camp chefs also were amazing! I had no idea such a variety of foods could be carried up the trail, prepared and cooked, all at the camp site. We dined on everything from fresh soups to Peruvian meat dishes (vegetarian options were provided as well) to pizzas and yes...even cake! How they pulled this off, I still don't know. And there was plenty of food to go around. I was stuffed after every meal. The hot water and coca tea at our tent every morning also was a nice touch.
Apolinar: The meals were among the best we had anywhere in Peru. We ate very well.
Balvino: Our chef Balvino made sure we did not go hungry, and constantly fed us AMAZING food. I will 100% over and over be recommending this company to my friends and family.
Our porters are a real mixed bunch, but the one thing they all have in common is their dedication and love of their job. From hardened Inca Trail veterans in their 50's, through to novices just starting to grow their first beard, you'll find a whole variety of characters and personalities throughout our team. After carrying 20kg of gear, over mountain passes and through driving rain, you'll find the porters are still full of energy, and it's not an uncommon sight to see them having a game of football at the end of a hard days walk.
See what our guests say about our porters:
“The porters not only carried so much equipment, but they were there cheering us along the whole way. Llama Path really treats the porters with respect and that is important to me.” (Dana)
“Additionally, we were shown how well Llama Path treats its porters. This was something I hadn't considered as part of my decision to go with this company for our trek. They provide their porters with uniforms, higher pay than what is standard, meals, and even a place to live. We were told that sustainable tourism and treatment of staff is a cornerstone of Llama Path's mission. I'm glad we supported this with our business.” (James)
“The porters were incredible and made sure our camp was always ready for us, along with water and anything else we might need. It was evident Llama Path as a company, and the employees, all care a great deal about them, and make sure they are treated really well.” (Meghan)
“On the way to the beginning of the trail, we stopped at the porters' house to pick them up. This is a place that Llama Path built for the porters, so they have a place to stay while they're working, instead of having to commute from their home towns. Coco gave us a tour of their quarters, and also showed us the school above the porters' house, that Llama Path built for local children that can't afford to go to school.” (Daria)
“We highly recommend our tour operators Llama Path, who not only looked like the most professional outfit on the trek, but who also ensured all their amazing porters had suitable hiking boots and warm clothing. The lovely men always managed a smile or a friendly wave as they toiled their way up the hills with our heavy load.” (Gwyn)
“It was evident that some of the other tour companies found ways to overload and underprepare their porters. Not with Llama Path. They also provide a house that the porters can stay at for free in between treks.” (Anna)
We care about our Porters as much as we care about our Tourists!
Our expert team of guides are all local to the Cusco area, speak fluent Spanish and English, and the majority also speak Qhechua (the native language of Peru). Every guide has a university degree in tourism, and a minimum of two years experience under their belt. They are full of energy, and extremely knowledgeable about the native flora and fauna, Incan sites, culture and history, and are always ready to share the stories and legends of the Andean people.
See what our tourists say about our Guides:
Marco was excellent, he was very knowledgeable/passionate about Incan/Peruvian history and he shared that with the group. My friend and I were slower than the rest of the group but Marco made sure to keep pace with us to make sure we didn't fall far behind. Definitely ask for Marco as your guide if you want an excellent trip.
Gabriel our tour guide was the best guide we have EVER had. He is such a nice guy - so much fun, hilarious, full of interesting stories and history and facts! He is actually an accomplished scholar and was a font of knowledge when it came to anything inka - he's even made some of his own documented and official discoveries on the trail itself which was so impressive. He is originally from the sacred valley so he lived and breathed the culture. Couldn't have had a better person being our guide for the tour, we were very very lucky.
Daniel is an amazing guide. I honestly can't picture a better fitting guide for our group. Daniel is very light hearted, funny, relaxed and really knows how to set the tone/mood of the group. From the beginning he removed all the pretenses and said we are panay (sister) and waikys (brother), this really set the tone for our trip
I do want to speak about our guide, Pepe...he made our trip worth all the hard work:) I know guides are very knowledgeable but Pepe had a way of storytelling unlike anybody I know. He was a former park ranger at Machu Picchu and he kept our interest riveted whenever he spoke in his quiet, almost secretive way. Whenever one of us wasn’t feeling well he was very supportive and helpful and had suggestions, and leaves he fresh picked, for tea, to make us feel better. If you’d like an experience where you feel totally safe and secure in the fact that your guide has your best interests at heart,
I particularly want to praise Charly our guide. He was excellent in every way. He was highly organised so we were always clear as to where we should be and what we would need to bring. He was always punctual and related positively to each member of the group. I was particularly grateful for his support of me over the more strenuous stages. I was the oldest member of the group with asthma & a chest infection, so often lagged behind. Charley would give me resting time whenever I needed it by giving us a talk on the flora & fauna around us. He was knowledgeable, passionate about his country and his culture and was an excellent guide around Machu Picchu.
Anibel is extremely knowledgeable about Incan history which shows through the trek. He's also a very fun dude which made the trek seem more like you were hiking the Inca Trail and visiting Machu Picchu with a good friend, who wanted to share his heritage. Everything about the trek was handled professionally, which made the entire experience more enjoyable.
Our tour guide, Walter, was phenomenal! He was funny, informative, helpful, and a great leader in coordinating every aspect of our 4 day Inca Trail experience. When my friend became very sick on the first day, he coordinated for us to stay at a closer campsite and was attentive to all of her needs, consistently checking to make sure she was okay and we were having a positive experience. He truly made it a great 4 Days!
Our guide, Gary,made the experience absolutely incredible! He went out of his way to meet us at our hotel in Cusco after finishing another trek to brief us. He gave us a very detailed understanding of what to expect each day and answered all of our questions.
our tour guide was Rolando. He was extremely helpful and enthusiastic about getting us to the top of Rainbow Mountain. The Llama Path teams are outstanding. As a part of our tour, breakfast and lunch was provided, and Llama Path went above and beyond. Instead of just prepacked food, Llama Path sent along a personal chef who made fresh amazing food!
Coco he was AWESOME. He provided in depth information about the trail, flora, ruins, and everything else in between. His experience divided the trail up into manageable sections over the four days, and got us to the Winaywayna gate as the second group, allowing us to be the first group to get to the Sun Gate. Coco's passion for his job was more than evident. It was shocking how knowledgeable he was about every subject under the sun, and in great detail. Any question we asked, whether it had to do with an Inca Site, modern politics, plants, animals, weather, he knew the answer. I still can't fathom how he fits so much information in his brain! Besides his fantastic organization and knowledge, he has a killer sense of humor. He kept us laughing the entire way to Machu Picchu, even when we were exhausted beyond words.
Roger, was engaging, professional and knowledgeable. He also consistently displayed an interest in everyone's well-being by reminding us about managing altitude sickness, asking if someone was unwell and tending to one girls sore knee.
Jose, was terrific. He was patient and encouraging, and kept a close eye on our well-being, checking everyone's oxygen levels when the going got tough. He even kept an eye on struggling hikers from other groups, which was very generous of him. He has a great passion for Inca history, and explained all the ruins we passed with enthusiasm. He excelled in helping us understand Machu Picchu itself.
Edwin, our lead guide was 100% knowledgeable in the history, geography and culture of the areas we visited. He was there for our group to guide, motivate, entertain and get us through the trying times that invariably occur at altitude. I consider Edwin a personal friend after this trek as he took our well being and enjoyment as his personal responsibility.
Marco was excellent, he was very knowledgeable/passionate about Incan/Peruvian history and he shared that with the group. My friend and I were slower than the rest of the group but Marco made sure to keep pace with us to make sure we didn't fall far behind. Definitely ask for Marco as your guide if you want an excellent trip.
Jose Baca- our guide. Great energy and incredibly knowledgable. The trek itself was full of the most amazing sites, laughs and a lot of stopping with Jose and having him describe the incan culture and history. The trek itself was full of the most amazing sites, laughs and a lot of stopping with Jose and having him describe the incan culture and history.
Roger's English was perfect and it was incredibly informative. We never felt rushed or stressed during the trip at all. Roger was simply amazing and full of anecdotes and history input about the inca culture and everything in Peru.
Jose Luis' knowledge and strength was fascinating. He was an excellent guide who was very passionate in his work and healthy lifestyle. His compassion was kindly noted when he help my sister , who was having a tough time on the trail. He gave her strength to carry on and also carried her backpack when she could no longer carry it. I would recommend Jose Luis to anyone planning a hiking trip!!!
JJ (Juan José) who went beyond expectation to ensure we were not only safe and learned about the inca sites and mountains surrounding us but kept us entertained with his colourful character (if you're ever stuck on a mountain, this is the man you want by your side!).
Dario was amazing! We were so lucky to have him to ourselves. It was incredible to sit on the edge of a mountain at an Incan sight and listen to the history of his people and even get to hear about some of his family that still live in the highlands. He was fantastic!
Our guide Aiben was funny, informative and helped us stay positive even through the most challenging parts of the hike. Neither my husband or I expected the entire hike to be as stunning as it was.
Edgar Rosalio 'Lio', was phenomenal. He had an encyclopedic knowledge of the history, culture, flora, fauna, architecture of the region. In addition, he was a super cheerleader and marshalled us through altitude and snow with great joy and lots of laughter.
Marco the "Peruvian rebel soldier" was entertained with jokes and stories in the evenings at dinner. During the day he was informative, telling us amazing inca stories and answering our questions as fully as he could. Most importantly he made us feel safe during the entire trip paying special attention to anyone who was sick or struggling.
Rolando was our guide for Machu Picchu and also the Cusco city tour. Very professional, extremely knowledgeable and Rolando has a "wicked" and terrific sense of humor.
Antony was knowledgable, energetic and a great person to be around and lead our hike. He paced us very well and was encouraging throughout the strenuous hike.
Our office staff are the backbone of the whole operation, and it's them you can thank for having a problem free and relaxed holiday. From the moment you contact us, to the moment you leave for your trip, they will organise everything down to the finest detail, so that your trip goes off without a hitch. Llama Path has a policy that all potential guides spend at least a year working in the office, to make sure they are of sufficient calibre and quality. For this reason many of the office staff are also aspiring guides, who are working alongside the permanent office staff.
Our front desk team are always on hand to help out with any queries you have during your stay in Cusco. Working from 9 until 1 and 3 until 8 from Monday to Saturday, and on Sunday from 4 until 8, they all have studied, or are studying tourism, and are fluent English speakers.
Organising your holiday is no small feat, and we have a dedicated team to make sure it all runs smoothly. Everything from answering initial enquiries, booking Machu Picchu, reserving hotels & tours, and answering any questions from guests leading up to their trip, we have all the bases covered to plan an amazing trip.
With so many people working together there's a great atmosphere of camaraderie and mutual support, and of course there's never a dull moment!
Michelle is co-owner and co-founder of Llama Path. Hailing from Wales in the UK, she originally travelled to Cusco as a tourist, but fell in love with the place and chose to start the agency with Jose back in 2003.
Michelle is involved in every aspect of making sure the business runs smoothly, and it certainly keeps her on her toes. Despite her impressive workload, she keeps everything in ship shape and all with a smile on her face, no matter what challenges she faces.
© Llamapath 2003 - 2024 All rights reserved
Address: Cuychipunku street 257, Cusco
Email: info@llamapath.com or reservations@llamapath.com
Tourist enquires: Mon- Sat (9am - 1pm and 3pm - 8pm / - 5GMT):
Cellphone: +51 959 507 001 
Out of office cellphone: +51 956 122 696
(Reservations) +51 956 122 696 
