Some of life’s greatest journeys begin with a single step. Others are shaped by the people who walk beside you.

On The Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu, the landscapes are unforgettable: snow-capped peaks, remote mountain passes, rushing rivers, cloud forests, and ancient trails leading toward Peru’s most iconic destination. But what often stays with travelers long after the trek ends is not only what they saw — it is who guided them through it.

At Mountain Lodges of Peru, expert local guides are at the heart of the journey. They bring the Andes to life through knowledge, care, storytelling, and a deep personal connection to the mountains.

Meet Dalmiro Portillo, One of MLP’s Expert Guides

Soft-spoken, thoughtful, and deeply connected to nature, Dalmiro Portillo has more than 25 years of trekking experience. His approach to guiding is shaped not only by technical expertise, but also by a quiet sense of wonder that comes from a life spent in the mountains.

For Dalmiro, guiding is more than leading travelers from one point to another. It is about helping them connect with the landscape, with each other, and with the experience unfolding around them.

“They don’t know what to expect, but they hope for something beautiful, something different,” he says. “And our job is to make these dreams come true.”

A Trek That Requires More Than a Trail Map

For adventure travelers, The Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu is one of Peru’s most rewarding routes. Often considered a more remote alternative to the classic Inca Trail, it follows an ancient path through the Cordillera Vilcabamba, crossing dramatic highland terrain before descending into the lush cloud forest of the Santa Teresa River Valley.

This is the kind of journey where an experienced guide makes all the difference. The altitude, changing landscapes, and physical challenge require preparation, awareness, and trust. MLP guides help travelers move through the trek with confidence, while also revealing the deeper meaning of the places they encounter.

They are not only guides. They are interpreters of culture, mountain storytellers, safety leaders, and companions on the journey.

The Spiritual Connection of Salkantay

For Dalmiro, Salkantay is not just a mountain. It is one of the sacred apus that surround Machu Picchu and a powerful symbol of Andean heritage.

“The first time I saw Salkantay closely, it had a great impact on me,” he shares. “Each time I am back there, I need to share this sensation. I feel like being part of the mountain, of the environment, of that place.”

That connection is part of what makes the MLP experience so special. Travelers are not simply walking through the Andes; they are being invited to understand them through the eyes of someone who belongs to this landscape and knows how to share its spirit with others. 

Guiding as Care, Leadership, and Connection

By the end of a multiday trek, the relationship between guide and traveler often becomes one of the most meaningful parts of the experience. A guide helps set the pace, read the group’s energy, offer encouragement, and create a sense of shared purpose.

“At the end of the day, you become a guide and a teacher,” Dalmiro says. “This is an incredible responsibility because among the passengers you can have all kinds of people, with different levels of preparation, who rely on you and follow your guidance.”

On a journey as powerful as Salkantay, that responsibility matters. It is what helps travelers feel supported as they move beyond their comfort zone and discover what they are capable of.

Experience The Salkantay Trek with Mountain Lodges of Peru

The landscapes of The Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu are extraordinary, but the people who guide you through them are what make the journey truly unforgettable.

With Mountain Lodges of Peru, travelers experience the Andes with expert local guides, lodge-to-lodge comfort, meaningful cultural insight, and the reassurance of being supported every step of the way.

As Dalmiro beautifully says, “A veces no es necesario decir palabras, sólo sentir.” Sometimes words are unnecessary — you just feel it.

Ready to experience The Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu with expert local guides? Contact us and let our travel specialists help you plan your journey.