Peru: Exploring the country with Juan and Claire

• Frédéric’s Story
• Solo Trip
• Guides: Juan and Claire

Here is the story of Frédéric, a seasoned traveler who explored Peru with SoGuide guides Juan and Claire. And even though Peru wasn’t at the top of his list, Frédéric tells us how he was charmed by its culture and beauty.

Juan and Claire, two passionate travelers. Based in Peru for about three years now, Juan is Peruvian and Claire is French. He has a double degree in tourism but couldn’t find work in France. They’d been thinking about moving to Peru for a while, so one day they decided to take the plunge. They make a great team: Claire handles the administrative side of the project, while Juan is out in the field.

A wonderful discovery I was taking a gap year to travel. At the time, I was staying with a Chilean friend. I know Claire because we went to school together, so even though Peru wasn’t a country that particularly appealed to me, I wasn’t far away—it was the perfect opportunity to pop over. To be honest, if I hadn’t known Claire, I might not have hired a guide. I’m used to traveling alone, but this experience was truly a wonderful discovery and changed my perspective on the whole thing.

It’s a privilege to discover a country under these conditions. The advantage of this trip was that we were a small group: three of us plus our guide, Juan. It’s a real treat to be able to explore a country this way. For example, we went on a day-long hike with Juan in Cusco and visited all the temples on foot. Being in a small group means you can ask as many questions as you want and take your time. Another advantage is that Juan, being a local, knows the people there very well. There are temples, like the Temple of the Moon for example, which are off-limits to the public, and we had the chance to visit it. It’s an incredible place, and it wouldn’t have been possible to see it without a local guide.

Juan is fascinating and passionate With this same small group, we also did the Inca Jungle trek. It’s a friendly atmosphere, and you have time to get to know the people you’re traveling with. In just three days, we formed a real bond. Juan is deeply connected to his country and to the travelers. He’s fascinating and passionate. As a local, he knows the culture inside out and loves sharing it. Plus, he loves telling stories.

Inca culture is incredibly rich On the second day of the trek, we set out on a 25-kilometer hike. Juan explains that each of us must take a stone in our pocket to carry it up to the top. Once at the summit, we perform an Inca ritual so that PachaMama (Mother Earth) will protect us for the rest of the journey. Inca culture is rich, and Juan really takes the time to help us understand it. Religion, traditions—without a guide, I would never have had access to this information and would have missed out on so much during this trip.

Claire also introduced me to the country’s cuisine. She took me to small markets where there were only locals—places without tourists and off the beaten path. That’s exactly what I look for on my travels: discovering the true daily life of the local people. They also have an Airbnb listing, and you can book all your activities through Juan and Claire.

A True Sustainable Tourism Initiative They have an eco-tourism approach and a commitment to sustainable tourism. Juan and Claire founded an association in Peru and donate 5% of the trekking fees to this association. The year I was there, they had set up a library in a school in a Quechua village. More recently, they took Quechua children to Machu Picchu. Very few Peruvians have been to Machu Picchu because, unfortunately, it’s too expensive for them.

Traveling with a guide brought me closer to the country’s history. While Peru wasn’t at the top of my list, I let myself be surprised and was completely won over. I really got to know this country in depth thanks to Juan and Claire, and I’m eager to return. For me, exploring Peru with a guide was a wonderful adventure, and I recommend it to all travelers. For my future trips, especially to areas with a distinct culture, I won’t hesitate to travel with a guide. A country’s history is important.