Elizabeth Founder
The founder and director of Mountain Gods Peru, She was born in Chinchero Cusco, Peru, and in her early years, attended elementary and high school at the college of Inca Tupac Yupanki in Chinchero where learned her first language, Quechua, the language of the Incas, followed by Spanish. At an early age she developed a special interest in exploring the mountains, learning as much as she could about the native plants, animals and local customs. She loved learning about the plants that local people use to make medicines, shampoos, and dyes for textiles. She also grew up taking care of her grandparents’ crops and livestock by helping with planting, harvesting, and feeding and tending to the animals.
After school, Elizabeth went to Cusco for university, and there, she learned English and earned a degree in Tourism and Administration. After graduation, she worked for 10 years as a tour guide, leading hundreds of groups to Machu Picchu and in the Andes Mountains. Safety is always the highest priority, so Elizabeth has extensive training in first aid and CPR, as well as other skills needed for hiking adventures. Now, she feels fortunate to own and manage her own trekking company, Mountain Gods Peru. She loves to share her knowledge of local customs, history, and culture with travelers from around the world. She is proud of her country and heritage, and will always make sure that all her guests will have an unforgettable trip to Peru.
Ronnie – Co – Founder
The co – founder of Mountain Gods Peru, was born in one small village outside of MachuPicchu and has trekked this área all of his life. He was raised speaking quechua – the local language. His parents still live on his family farm. He studied his elementary and high school in the same village and when he graduated he moved to the city of Cusco looking for a better life.Along the way, his uncle from his village invited him to be a porter on the Inca Trail and he immediately accepted the job.He worked as a porter and a chef for 8 years where he was mistreated because there was not tents,sleeping bags,sleeping pads,there was not enough food and he used to carry more than 50 kg.After saving money,He immediately enrolled in the University studying tourism and English while working as a porter and a cheff.
Once he graduated from University,he become a licensed tour guide.he worked for several local companies as an Assistant Guide and then,for the last 12 years,as a Head Guide.working in all these companies he always felt the owners of the companies were abusing their field employees such as,the chefs,porters and guides.they focused on money and less on people.
They used to be reckless with the health and safety of its workers, and would feel total disregard toward the porter’s wellbeing, paying them low wages and not on time.they were not treated with honor and fairly. That was the reason to start his own company to beat these practices.
Our Expert Guides
Our guides are incredibly knowledgeable,passionate about Peru. Their charisma, kindness and knowledge of their native culture will amaze you. They will become your friend, one to answer any questions about our heritage, our traditions, our differences and similarities. Our guides have years of experience under their belt in tourism and are bilingual, speaking Spanish, English, and the majority speak also Quechua (the native language of Peru).