hernan hermoza

Our fantastic guide Hernan took us around the best sights and great hikes in the Sacred Valley, Machu Picchu and Cusco. If you are thinking of coming to Machu Picchu then he can sort out a great itinerary for you as a private guide (with the money going directly to the locals and cutting out the middleman) for less than group tours. He picks you up and drops you off from the airport and transfers your luggage as well as shows you the best hikes and sights. You book your own hotels. His English is superb and he has a great sense of humour too. Fantastic!

Based on the strength of previous reviews we got in contact with Hernan 11 months in advance of our trip to ensure he was available. We told him that we were going to be in the Sacred Valley (Urubamba), Cusco area for 9 days and wanted to visit Machu Picchu as well as do some interesting sights and some hikes.

Hernan created an itinerary for us that covered his private guide services and private driver (pickups and drop-offs and luggage transfer), the train tickets (he got us the front 2 seats on the train to Machu Picchu), the entrance tickets and Machu Picchu hike permit. We booked our own hotels and he picked us up and dropped us off every day at our hotels:

- Day 1: Pick-up from airport and transfer to our hotel in Urubamba (Sacred Valley) (the Sheraton Tambo del Inka is a very nice hotel)

- Day 2: Visit the lively local market in Urubamba and drive to the top of the Pisac site and hike down to where his driver (his uncle in this case) picked us up again

- Day 3: Day-off for us to enjoy our hotel (although we couldn't sit still and went to Ollaytantambo ourselves for the morning...)

- Day 4: Vistadome train from our hotel to the 104km stop at 2100m where we did the "Short" 1 day hike to Machu Picchu at 2400m (via Winay Wayna at 2700m) and we stayed overnight in the very nice Sumaq hotel in Aguas Calientes at the foot of Machu Picchu

- Day 5: Visiting Machu Picchu (including Llama selfies) and then the 3pm train back to Urubamba

- Day 6: Moray (circular terraces) and hike down to Maras (where the terraced salt pans are), followed by a visit to a local shopping place where the process of making Lllama and Alpaca clothing and table throws etc. is also explained. Not to mention the cutest of Llamas and Guinea pigs. We then stayed at Cusco for 3 nights at the Palacio del Inka hotel

- Day 7: Drive from Cusco to the Tauca community and fantastic hike up to 14200 feet towards a village Puca Marca, over the top to the ruins at Huchuyqosqo and finally down to Lamay

- Day 8: Cusco City tour, the Animal sanctuary with the amazing huge condor birds, Saqsayhuaman, Qenqo, Zona x for the caves (sacred places for the Incas) Qoricancha and Sun temple

- Day 9: Transfer from our hotel to the airport

Hernan was always on time, very knowledgeable and friendly and we were truly sad when we had to part ways at the end of our trip. The highlights go on and on but he was great company and very interesting. I doubt I’ll forget that alpaca tails go down and llama tails go up. Also, llamas are pronounced “Ya-mas”.

We looked forward to each day’s activities and it felt natural to be in his company. We had good conversations and a good laugh. 

In summary, a fantastic trip and guide!