Four Season Guides Goes Global: Introducing Machu Picchu Treks
We’ve guided guests through the canyons and mountains of the Southwest for over 25 years. The Grand Canyon, Escalante, Yosemite: these places have shaped who we are as a company.
The wonder of archaeology and ancient cultures has always fascinated us. This wonder and passion has inspired us to – for the first time ever – take that same trusted approach internationally.
We invite you to join us on a guided hiking adventure in one of the world’s most iconic hiking destinations: Machu Picchu, Peru.
For us, this isn’t just about adding a pin to the map. This is the result of years of curiosity, exploration, and firsthand experience, especially for our longtime guide-turned-General Manager, Scott, who’s been trekking in Latin America for decades.
“Peru felt like a natural next step in exploring the Americas, and Machu Picchu has always fascinated me – the archaeology, the human history, the incredible diversity in the landscape.” – Scott, Four Season Guides General Manager
NEW: Two Ways to Experience Machu Picchu with Four Season Guides
We’re offering two distinct itineraries, each thoughtfully designed to reflect the Four Season Guides values and ethos you already know and love: small groups, expert guides, careful preparation, and meaningful experiences in extraordinary landscapes.
Picture this: immersive travel, challenging yet breathtaking scenery, and all logistics handled for you, leaving you the chance to peacefully walk through history (not just read about it).
1. Inca Trail Trek to Machu Picchu
This is the route most hikers dream of when they think of Machu Picchu: hiking a centuries-old trail system through high mountain passes, cloud forests, and ancient ruins.
- Physically demanding and highly rewarding
- Includes acclimatization days in Cusco and the Sacred Valley
- Fully-supported trek experience, with overnight camping and a crew of certified porters
- Ends with a dramatic final approach to Machu Picchu through the Sun Gate
“It’s a true challenge – steep, high elevation, and physically demanding. In many ways, it’s comparable to some of our more strenuous Grand Canyon hikes.” – Scott
2. Machu Picchu Lodge-Based Trek with Short Inca Trail & Rainbow Mountain
We designed this itinerary for hikers who want rich cultural immersion with a bit more comfort along the way.
- Less strenuous than the full Inca Trail – but still includes a full day hiking the last leg of the iconic Inca Trail, meaning a triumphant arrival to Machu Picchu through the Sun Gate
- Features comfortable lodge stays in lieu of overnight camping
- Ideal for those curious about Peru’s living indigenous communities as well as its rich historical past
As Scott says, the Machu Picchu Lodge-Based Trek is “less physically demanding and allows for more cultural interaction. Guests spend time in communities, meet local people, and experience daily life alongside the landscape and history. There’s still a good amount of hiking, including a full day on the Inca Trail, so it still requires solid fitness and a desire to be active every day. But of course, those who don’t want to camp will find this the more appealing option.
Designed with Acclimatization and Exploration in Mind
Many tour operators offer shorter versions of the Machu Picchu experience, but still recommend that guests arrive early to adjust to the elevation. We’ve built those critical acclimatization days into our itineraries, making them a meaningful part of your trip, not just a waiting period.
In both itineraries, guests will spend the first days in Peru exploring the Sacred Valley and Cusco, learning about Inca history, visiting stunning sites, and getting ready – in both mind and body – for the journey ahead.
Why your Southwest Experts are Expanding to the Way, Way South
For over 20 years, Four Season Guides has built a trusted reputation exploring the canyons, mesas, and hidden trails of the American Southwest. However, our passion for landscape, history, and human connection doesn’t end at the border.
Expanding into international treks – starting with our two Peru itineraries – is a natural next step for a team like ours that is deeply rooted in the stories of place and people.
Here’s Scott again: “Archaeology and human history have always been central to our trips here in the Southwest. Machu Picchu is a world-renowned archaeological site, and a Bucket List destination for many hikers, so expanding into Peru fit perfectly. Guests have been asking us for years if we offered trips there. Those two factors – our passion and our guests’ interest – made the decision clear.”
First Departures: June & July 2026
These inaugural trips will be small-group departures, designed both for hikers who’ve trusted Four Season Guides for years and those looking for a deeper kind of adventure abroad. Future itineraries and departures will certainly follow, but these first trips will be something special.
Whether you’ve dreamed of Machu Picchu for years, or you’re just now considering the Andes for the first time, Four Season Guides is thrilled to help you make it happen.
Ready to join the Four Season Guides hiking experts on a journey to Machu Picchu in Peru? Check out our
Machu Picchu Lodge-Based Trek with Short Inca Trail & Rainbow Mountain or our classic
Inca Trail Trek to Machu Picchu for more information and to request a reservation.
Final Thoughts From Scott
Hungry for More? Here’s more of the backstory about Four Season Guides’ expansion to Peru from Scott, our longtime guide-turned-General Manager:
What first drew you to Peru and Machu Picchu?
Scott: I’ve had a long-standing interest in Latin America. During my guiding years, I spent most of winter time off heading south to explore. I loved the culture, the landscapes, and I couldn’t get enough. Peru felt like a natural next step in exploring the Americas, and Machu Picchu has always fascinated me: the archaeology, the human history, the incredible diversity in the landscape. And my fascination with archaeology, from many years exploring and guiding in the Southwestern U.S., made Machu Picchu seem like the perfect destination.
What do you love most about traveling in Peru?
Scott: The diversity – cultural, historical, and geographic. Peru has vast mountain ranges, valleys, deserts, and coastal areas. It reminds me of the grand scale of landscapes in North America, but with its own unique cultural richness.
What do you hope Four Season Guides guests take away from these trips?
Scott: A sense of wonder. Machu Picchu is so extraordinary that even after studying its history, I still have questions about how and why it was built. It’s a place that leaves you in awe.
What would you say to someone who’s intrigued but perhaps nervous about the physical challenge of trekking in Peru?
Scott: That hesitation is absolutely legitimate. Many of our trips can feel daunting at first, and my first recommendation for anyone with concerns is always the same: start training as early as possible. Preparing for the Classic Inca Trail, in particular, involves several steps. The most difficult factor to prepare for is the elevation. That’s why we’ve designed this itinerary to include a few days in Cusco before the trek begins. During that time, guests can acclimatize, do some light hiking, and explore the area.
For those who still have real reservations about the physical challenge, we also offer the lodge-based option. It’s less demanding but still incredibly rewarding. If someone’s main goal is to experience Machu Picchu, both as an archaeological wonder and as being representative of the cultural heritage of Peru, both itineraries achieve that. The lodge-based trip simply provides a less strenuous way to do it.
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