About Machete Tours

Machete Tours started as a small specialist eco-tourism operator in the magical environment of Manu Biosphere Reserve in the South-Eastern Peruvian Amazon – a UNESCO World Heritage Site, encompassing a range of Andean and Rainforest environments. From these humble beginnings in the year 2000 Machete Tours has grown into a major Peruvian Tourism operator – covering the length of breadth of the country with diverse and creative itineraries. Since 2008 Machete tours has been expanding operations further, with itineraries now running in Chile, Bolivia, Ecuador and Galapagos Islands. Today we continue to expand our operations while maintaining our high standards and commitment to quality that have been the foundation of our success since the beginning.

Objectives of Machete Tours

Machete Tours believes and is commited to in using Eco-tourism as a tool to encourage the protection of the natural environment. We endeavour to encourage a love and respect of nature through enhanced understanding and awareness, both in our staff and clients. With local communities we create frameworks were the eco-tourism business promotes truly sustainable use of pristine natural environments and nature. These benefits are shared equally and fairly and with communities with no loss to the natural world. Local communities not only benefit in the physical and financial sense but also from education and literacy initiatives spearheaded by the Tine and Ronald in Peru Hans Christiansen Library Project.

Machete Tours Staff

Using an established group of expert Latin American staff, Machete Tours guides are all licensed to work on the routes described in our itineraries. All our guides are at least bilingual, with the minimum requirement being fluency in English and Spanish. All our guides have an excellent awareness of the natural environment, and all staff go through extensive first aid training. Similar qualities are also required of our excellent support staff including cooks, drivers, boatman and porters.

Machete Tours Itineraries

On this website you will find a wealth of information describing our itineraries throughout Latin America in detail. Tours can fitted together to form larger itineraries and in some cases accommodation upgrades may also be possible – just give us a call to discuss this further. Tailor-made itineraries for individuals are another possibility. With each tour an introduction provides an overview of what the experience involves, followed by a daily breakdown of events and experiences on your Latin American adventures. Even more detailed descriptions of our products can be requested, along with country specific travel information and notes. These will always be provided to clients before you set off on your Latin American Experiences.

Meals

Where meals are included this is indicated in our tour itineraries:

B = Breakfast included, L = Lunch included, D = Dinner included.

Meals may be served in selected restaurants or they may be prepared by our company cooks, especially when on wilderness or trekking tours. If you are vegetarian or have any special dietary requirements please contact Machete Tours before your departure on your selected tour – preferably at the time of booking. Machete tours provide excellent, nutritious meals making the most of local organic foods and produce were available. Hygiene is a top priority of all our culinary staff.

Meals are often not included when in large cities such as Lima, Arequipa, Puno, Cusco, La Paz, etc. – this enables clients to explore their local surroundings and choose from a wide range of tasty available options! Our guides will also always be able to advise clients as to recommended eating establishments.

Accommodation

Machete tours use a wide range of accommodation depending on the nature of the trip – from fully supported camping trips in remote mountain and jungle regions. To luxury hotels and the Amazon’s most luxurious cruising boats, such the M/V Aqua.

Ethnic Policy

Machete tours operates a totally non-racist policy as is open to clients of nationalities and races. Local Peruvian clients are welcomed with us on our journeys.

Rubbish Disposal and Hygiene

Rubbish disposal – following from our environmentally sensitive working policy all rubbish carried out of trekking, natural and protected areas and disposed of by the safest possible means.

Staff Biographies

Ronald Rengifo – Managing Director

Born in Pucallpa in the central Peruvian Amazon Region Ronald has a superb knowledge of the rainforest, and it’s many of these early skills that helped Ronald pioneer his jungle tourism operation.

Ronald went to school and studied administration in the Pucallpa area before getting his first major travelling experience when he was just 14 years old, travelling alone and by boat from Pucallpa to the jungle ‘capital’ of Iquitos several days downstream. Since that first experience the love of travel and adventure has never left Ronald. Studying tourism Ronald obtained his first paid position as a rainforest guide when he was 17 years old. 4 years latter Ronald started guiding internationally, leading tours in Bolivia and later as a resident guide in the great Pantanal Wetlands of Brazil.

In year Ronald 2000 travelled to the exuberant Carnival festivities in Salvador de Bahia in Northeast Brazil. It was here in exotic coastal Brazil that he met his wife and Business Partner, Tine Ansbjerg.

Ronald and Tine opened the first Machete Tours office in Cusco in 2001, and now have offices in Cusco, Lima, Denmark and Sweden. 10 years down the road and Machete Tours are still expanding their range of high quality operations throughout South America. After 4 years living in Denmark in 2009 Ronald and Tine relocated to Southern Sweden were they continue to live happily today with their two boys Tor and Misac.

Irma Huayapa

Sales and operations manager – Lima Branch.

Following her graduation with a degree in tourism and hostelling at San Martin de Porres University Irma has consistently expanded her knowledge of the travel sector. Before joining Machete Tours she worked in hotels, museums and with various tour agencies in Lima and throughout Peru. With extensive knowledge of her diverse home country she is an essential part of our precisely orchestrated Peruvian business – all this and she still manages to be a fantastic mum!

Araceli Rivera

Lima office sales and reservations department,
Tour Guide (Northern Peru Specialist)

Areceli has always possessed a deep routed fascination in Peruvian ancient history and cultures, combined with natural curiosity and love of travel and exploration. She studied Andean Prehistory and Archaeology at University before going on to teaching. When an offer presented itself to become a guide in the beautiful cloud forest region of Northern Peru, an area rich with remains of many great Andean civilizations, curiosity once again got the better of her and she started out on career of guiding, interspersed with a considerable amount archaeological work. Some notable archaeological projects she has contributed to include a master plan for the vast Chachapoyan City of Kuelap and a study of Northern Peruvian mummification processes.

In her role at Machete Tours Areceli aids the development of new tour programs and leads journeys in Lima and Northern Peru – always in her warm, friendly but precise and knowledgeable style.

Ana Maria Mitani

Sales and Operations Manager – Cusco Branch.

After studying tourism and gaining her official guiding qualification Ana Maria worked with several local tourism operations in the area. Ana Maria gained critical experience both of the regions themselves and also the processes and operations that are essential to keep tourism companies running smoothly.

Now working with Machete Tours she is responsible for reservations and operations for Southern Peruvian trekking routes including the classic Inca trail treks, Salkantay and others. Ana Maria also organises many of our special rainforest itineraries in Peruvian Amazonia. She particularly loves the classic Inca Trail route and feels a deep satisfaction when reading letters from clients who had a wonderful time on Machete Tours expeditions. 

Yannett Huaman

Cusco Operations

Yannett Huaman was born in the traditional village of Coya in the Sacred Valley of Incas, in the shadow of great snow peaks of Urubamba Mountain Range. Studying at the college of San Martin de Porres she has always been fascinated by eco-tourism. In addition to her college education she studied at the tourism Institutes of KHIPU and ICPNA, which belongs to the Association of Tourist Guides and conducts an authorization course for Inca Trail guides each year.

Having grown up with the local indigenous people of the Sacred valley she has excellent relationship with and understanding of the communities there. In addition to this Yannett is a great athlete, loves being outside in the fresh mountain air and has walked many of the region’s most fascinating trails including routes to Salkantay and Choquequirao. She also loves white-water rafting, repelling and climbing amongst the regions many peaks. Open minded and with a great sense of humour she can always be relayed upon to advise passengers looking for the right adventure experience for them in the Cusco Area!

Milagros Aedo Arizabal

Milagros Aedo graduated from the University Andina with a degree in tourism in 2008. She finds relating to clients from different cultures and faraway places endlessly fascinating. Milagros loves studying languages. As well Spanish, Milagros is a fluent English speaker and she can also speak basic Italian and Japanese. Like the rest of our staff Milagros loves to travel and has explored Arequipa, Puno, Lima, Tacna, Trujillo, Piura and Huaraz amongst other haunts in Peru, and this is just the beginning!

Gianina Rodriguez

I´m Gianina Rodriguez, I was Born in Lima ,Peru on july 1982.

I´m the oldest of four brothers.

Actually I live in Lima one of the biggest cities in Peru.

I studied English and International Culture. Where I had an exchange in Denmark for one semester. Where I learned and exchange culture with people from around the world, from that moment I decided to study History. I have to finish it, but I don’t give up!

Living with people of different cultures does not compare to read a book, in my life I was living in different places as a student, volunteer, working and enjoying, all of this are great until now.

I like to travel a lot, sport read, in my spare time I like to take a photo or draw.

I invite to all of you to be part in our culture!!!

Have a nice day!