SleepunderAndeanskies,guidedbyalocal
Authentic Cusco tours led by Carlos — born in the Sacred Valley, fluent in English and Quechua, and passionate about sharing his homeland with the world.
Meet Carlos
Your Local Guide from the Sacred Valley
Carlos was born and raised in the Sacred Valley and still speaks Quechua, the native language of the Incas. His parents still live in the Sacred Valley and serve the local community. Carlos gives unrivalled access to his family, local traditions, and the authentic Andean way of life that you simply won't find with other tour companies.
With over 15 years of experience guiding in the Cusco region, Carlos has excellent English-speaking abilities and deep knowledge of Inca history, archaeology, and the natural environment. He is First Aid trained with yearly courses — every tour includes a first aid kit and oxygen tank.
About Tours By Carlos
🏔️ From Friendship to Business Partners
In January 2020, Davis and Carlos completed the Lares Trek and forged a strong friendship. Little did they know, this journey would spark the idea for something extraordinary. Carlos, fueled by a dream, expressed his desire to start a tour guide company.
🌐 The Plot Twist
Just as this idea was close to taking flight, fate threw a curveball. Less than a month later, the pandemic hit, slamming the brakes on tourism, casting a shadow over the vibrant streets of Cusco, and leaving Carlos facing an uphill battle.
⏩ Fast Forward 3.5 Years
Carlos, resilient and determined, gets back on his feet. He reaches out to Davis, who at the time was navigating the concrete jungle as a Management Consultant in Melbourne. Davis, craving a new adventure, saw this as the perfect moment to breathe life into the passion ignited back in 2020 — an opportunity to blend his consultancy experience with an exhilarating new adventure alongside his great friend Carlos.
🌈 Join the Adventure
Together, Carlos and Davis are rewriting the script, turning setbacks into comebacks, and sharing their knowledge and friendship with adventurers from all walks of life. When you book with Tours By Carlos, you're not just hiring a guide — you're becoming part of the story.
Why Choose Tours By Carlos
100% Peruvian-Owned
Most competitors are registered in the USA, Australia, or Europe. Tours By Carlos is majority Peruvian-owned and domiciled in Peru — we pay Peruvian taxes and reinvest profits locally.
Supporting Local Communities
Carlos personally knows the porters, horse handlers, chefs, and small hotels along our routes. Every booking supports local livelihoods and allows travellers to meet and learn from these communities.
Authentic Cultural Access
Carlos was born in the Sacred Valley and speaks the native Inca language, Quechua. His family remains active in the local community, offering guests rare insight into Andean traditions and food.
Exclusive Quarry Trek Domes
We are the only company offering private domes at the first two Quarry Trek campsites. Panoramic views, comfort, and a unique overnight experience you can't get anywhere else.
Happy Travelers
Google Rating
Years Experience
Locally Owned
Exclusive Domes
A Quarry Trek experience like no other
Sleep under the clearest skies on Earth in our exclusive domes — the only private dome accommodation on the Quarry Trek. Panoramic mountain views, comfortable mattresses, afternoon tea service, and gourmet Andean cuisine. These camps exist because of Carlos. Born and raised in the Sacred Valley, he speaks Quechua and has spent his life building genuine relationships with the communities that call these mountains home. That trust is the reason we have exclusive access to these dome sites — access no other operator can offer. When you stay here, you're not just a guest in a remarkable landscape. You're welcomed into it by the people who belong to it.
The Quarry Trek
Choose your adventure — from our classic Quarry Trek with exclusive domes, to the ultimate luxury experience with massage sessions and gourmet dining.
These domes exist because of Carlos. Born and raised in the Sacred Valley, fluent in Quechua, and deeply connected to the communities that call these mountains home — Carlos has built relationships here that no tour operator can replicate. The exclusive dome camps on the Quarry Trek aren't available through anyone else. They're the result of years of trust, shared culture, and a genuine bond with the people of the Andes. When you trek with Carlos, you're not just passing through this landscape. You're welcomed into it.
The Quarry Trek to Machu Picchu
4 Days / 3 Nights
The Inca Trail gets all the attention — but the Quarry Trek is where the real magic happens. This off-the-beaten-path route to Machu Picchu takes you through sacred waterfalls, ancient quarries, spiritual mountain passes, and the living Inca town of Ollantaytambo. And at the end of each day, while every other trekker crawls into a tent — you retreat to something extraordinary. Two nights in our exclusive private domes. Pillows. Panoramic mountain views. The clearest skies on earth above you, the Verónica Glacier glowing in the distance. This is the only trek on the Quarry Trail that offers this. Not a tent. Not a guesthouse. A dome.
Quarry Trek + Short Inca Trail
5 Days / 4 Nights
Why choose one iconic trail when you can do both? This 5-day adventure combines the raw, off-the-beaten-path Quarry Trek with the legendary Short Inca Trail — giving you sacred waterfalls, ancient quarries, a spiritual mountain ceremony, Wiñay Wayna, the Sun Gate, and Machu Picchu at sunrise. All in one unbroken journey through the heart of the Andes. And while other trekkers sleep in tents, you don't. Two nights in our exclusive private domes — the only ones on this route. Real pillows. Panoramic mountain views and the Verónica Glacier glowing in the dark above you. Adventure by day, luxury by night.
LUXURYLuxury Quarry Trek
4 Days / 3 Nights
This is the Quarry Trek as it was always meant to be experienced. Same sacred waterfalls, same ancient quarry, same spiritual ceremony at 4,450 metres — but every evening ends not just in a private dome under the Andean stars, but with a professional therapeutic massage waiting for you. Four days of genuine Andean adventure, thoughtfully curated for those who refuse to compromise on comfort. Gourmet meals prepared fresh in the mountains. A bilingual expert guide. Private domes with panoramic views of the Verónica Glacier. And after the hardest day of hiking, someone to take care of your legs. History, nature, ancestral spirituality — and luxury woven through every moment of it.
More Iconic Treks
Classic routes to Machu Picchu — each offering a unique perspective of the Andes.
Classic Inca Trail
4 Days / 3 Nights
This isn't just a hike — it's the walk that 500 years of history prepared for you. Over 4 days and 3 nights, you'll follow the exact stone paths carved by the Incas themselves, threading through snow-capped peaks, cloud forests, and ancient ruins before arriving at Machu Picchu the way it was always meant to be seen — through the Sun Gate, at sunrise, on foot. Fully private. Chef-prepared meals in the mountains. Expert local guides. No strangers. No shortcuts. Just you, the Andes, and one of the greatest journeys on earth.
Short Inca Trail
2 Days / 1 Night
Not everyone has 4 days — but everyone deserves Machu Picchu the right way. The Short Inca Trail gives you the most dramatic section of the legendary route: ancient ruins, cloud forest, hidden waterfalls, and the moment you step through the Sun Gate to see the Lost City glowing below you. Then a night in Aguas Calientes, a sunrise over the citadel, and a private guided tour of one of the New Seven Wonders of the World. Two days. One night. Completely private. Absolutely unforgettable.
Step Into the Local Culture
An experience you cannot get anywhere else. Carlos's mother still lives in Ollantaytambo, where she brews traditional chicha — the ancient Andean corn beer — and raises cuy (guinea pig), a beloved delicacy at the heart of Peruvian highland culture.
If you would like to visit, just ask Carlos. It is the kind of experience no itinerary can plan for you. Carlos Mum loves new visitors.
Ask Carlos About a Visit
Life at the Domes
Panoramic Andean views, starlit nights, and mornings above the clouds. This is what awaits you on the Quarry Trek.
Tours By Carlos Reel
Sacred Valley & Waterfalls
Coming soon
Official Cinematic Spot
Coming soonSee What Awaits You
What Our Travelers Say
"Our trek with Carlos exceeded expectations. His knowledge, enthusiasm, love and pride in his culture is very apparent, and genuine. Carlos had deep connections to the communities we passed through, and we felt privileged to be briefly a part of this connection. We were very well looked after — airport transfers, great accommodation. The food on our trek was amazing. The igloo accommodation was delightful, and the view from our tent at night was amazing. To say the mountains and the scenery is breathtakingly beautiful is stating the obvious, but seriously what a backdrop for an amazing trip. Thank you so much for sharing your love of your country with us, it's a trip we'll never forget."
Amanda H.
Australia
Book Your Adventure
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Start Your Journey
Let Carlos show you the real Peru — the Sacred Valley, ancient Inca trails, and the warmth of local communities. Your adventure starts with a message.