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Inappropriate / Inaccurate? Jose Sotelo

Location: Cusco
Country: Peru
Speaks: english, spanish
Services: sport, tours
Cost: Between $35 and $50 ($US per day / per item)
Recommended by: Louise (loupy), April 14, 2008
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Description:

Activities available...
Bicycling and trekking guide offering guided tours walking to Lares, Salkantay and by bike and on foot to Santa Maria, Santa Teresa and Machu Picchu. Can be 3-5 days. An example trip might be:
Day 1: Downhill mountain biking to Santa Maria from Abra Malaga
Day 2 Walk to Santa Teresa where there are beautiful thermal springs
Day 3 Walk to Aguas Calientes, also known as Machu Picchu Pueblo
Day 4 Visit Machu Picchu (with another guide qualified to guide in the ruins). Return to Cusco or Ollantaytambo that night or the next day.

Price is just for the guiding and does not include your food or accommodation or entrances. Bicycle hire and transport from Cusco to start of bike ride is $20 per person.

Tours to Salkantay and Ausangate mountains also possible.

Contact Details:

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Add a photo.	Edit photos & captions.

Uploaded by Louise on April 14, 2008.

Jose: candid shot on Inca Trail Uploaded by Taffy on Sept. 7, 2008.

Jose outside of Aguas Calientes Uploaded by Taffy on Sept. 7, 2008.

Jose biking on day 1 Uploaded by Taffy on Sept. 7, 2008.

1st day to Machu Picchu: Getting ready to ride bikes to Santa Maria Uploaded by Bruno M on Nov. 6, 2010.

2nd day: Gorgeous hike to Santa Teresa, picture by Jose. Uploaded by Bruno M on Nov. 6, 2010.

Jose explaining political structure of Inca empire, hiking to Santa Teresa. Uploaded by Bruno M on Nov. 6, 2010.

2nd day to Machu Picchu: Hiking to Santa Teresa, picture by Jose. Uploaded by Bruno M on Nov. 6, 2010.

Resting by a creek during the hike to Santa Teresa, picture by Jose. Uploaded by Bruno M on Nov. 6, 2010.

Visit to Machu Picchu Uploaded by Maddalena Giannella on Aug. 16, 2011.

Customer Reviews

Overall
8 / 10
8 reviews

Louise (recommender) (5 / 10)

reviewed April 14, 2008, 6:17 p.m.

Louise spent 2 hours or less with Jose Sotelo.

Description

I have met Jose but havent done a tour with him. He is very friendly and I imagine is a very good guide. I spoke to him only in Spanish but his written English in email seems ok and he says he speaks some English. Look forward to hearing more reviews from people who have toured with him.

Best bits: friendly and keen

Worst bits: none

Ratings

Overall experience: 5 / 10

Value for money: 5 / 10

Eco impact: 5 / 10

Does the local understand eco issues? Not sure

Taffy (10 / 10)

reviewed Sept. 7, 2008, 9:39 p.m.

Taffy spent 2-5 days with Jose Sotelo.

Description

Day 1: Downhill mountain biking to Santa Maria from Abra Malaga
Day 2: Walk to Santa Teresa
Day 3: Walk to Aguas Calientes
Day 4: Visit Machu Picchu. Return to Cusco

Best bits: very flexible, easy going, experienced guide

Worst bits: Mosquitoes!! Why didn't I remember the repellant?

Ratings

Overall experience: 10 / 10

Value for money: 10 / 10

Eco impact: 7 / 10

Does the local understand eco issues? Yes

Profile Accuracy: 9 / 10

Comments:

Andrew (10 / 10)

reviewed June 11, 2009, 7:55 p.m.

Andrew spent 2-5 days with Jose Sotelo.

Description

Jose took my girlfreind and I from Lares to Machu Picchu. The guides set up camp, cooked and carried the bulk of our gear and Jose guided us and educated us on the surrounding in a freindly and fun manner. He was patient and understanding with us at altitude and allowed us plenty of time to take in the scenery but also knew when we had to rush.

Best bits: Remote beautiful scenery and service of Jose and freinds

Worst bits: None

Ratings

Overall experience: 10 / 10

Value for money: 9 / 10

Eco impact: 10 / 10

Does the local understand eco issues? Yes

Profile Accuracy: 5 / 10

Comments:

It doesn't come close to refecting how good and diligent Jose is at his job

Maya Feile Tomes (2 / 10)

reviewed Sept. 19, 2009, 9:52 a.m.

Maya Feile Tomes spent 2-5 days with Jose Sotelo.

Description

Inca Jungle Trail

Best bits: getting to finally see Machu Picchu

Worst bits: everything else

Ratings

Overall experience: 2 / 10

Value for money: 3 / 10

Eco impact: 6 / 10

Does the local understand eco issues? Not sure

Profile Accuracy: 2 / 10

Comments:

We had an extremely disappointing experience with this guide. It was the complete opposite of what all the other comments on this website suggested. When we met him beforehand to arrange the tour, he was pleasant and helpful. But as soon as the 4-day trek began, he became uncommunicative (which eventually dropped down to completely silent) and unhelpful. He ignored all our requests, withheld information, and criticised us constantly. He also serious miscalculated timings. We got into a couple of sticky situations because we had to keep going long after dark. He was also in a rush all the time as he had not made any advance reservations for anything, so we were having to rush our way through gorgeous scenery which we will probably never see again.

Sean (10 / 10)

reviewed Aug. 6, 2010, 9 p.m.

Sean spent 2-5 days with Jose Sotelo.

Description

5d/4n trek to Choquequirao. We arrived at Choquequirao on the second day and were able to explore the ruins, see the sunset, and watch for condors. It was truly an experience.

Best bits: The trek, white llama

Worst bits: none

Ratings

Overall experience: 10 / 10

Value for money: 10 / 10

Eco impact: 10 / 10

Does the local understand eco issues? Yes

Profile Accuracy: 10 / 10

Comments:

Bruno M (10 / 10)

reviewed Nov. 6, 2010, 7:41 p.m.

Bruno M spent 2-5 days with Jose Sotelo.

Description

Me and my partner hiked for three days to visit Machu Picchu (Aguas Calientes) with Jose. We met on Ollantaytambo. The first day was an exciting bike ride to Santa Maria, the next day a beautiful walk to Santa Teresa and the last day another beautiful walk to Aguas Calientes.

Best bits: His knowledge of local people, edible plants and fruits, his sense of humor and friendliness.

Worst bits: It was all amazing.

Ratings

Overall experience: 10 / 10

Value for money: 8 / 10

Eco impact: 10 / 10

Does the local understand eco issues? Yes

Profile Accuracy: 10 / 10

Comments:

Maddalena Giannella (9 / 10)

reviewed Aug. 16, 2011, 4:15 p.m.

Maddalena Giannella spent 2-5 days with Jose Sotelo.

Description

A trek in the Lares valley to visit the remote comunities of Chupani with extension to the Machu Picchu ruins.

Best bits: landscape, talking about inca culture with the local, eating

Worst bits: transport

Ratings

Overall experience: 9 / 10

Value for money: 8 / 10

Eco impact: 10 / 10

Does the local understand eco issues? Yes

Profile Accuracy: 8 / 10

Comments:

The local is extremely professional, very kindly and careful for the satisfaction of the trekkers. He gives a lot of informations and is very funny in overall conversations. Extremely recommended.

riccardo (8 / 10)

reviewed Sept. 20, 2011, 2:46 a.m.

riccardo spent 2-5 days with Jose Sotelo.

Description

Salkantay trek and Machu Picchu

Best bits: perfect organization .. time scheduling

Worst bits: Not so lucky with weather forecast

Ratings

Overall experience: 8 / 10

Value for money: 6 / 10

Eco impact: 10 / 10

Does the local understand eco issues? Yes

Profile Accuracy: 5 / 10

Comments:

Jose is a very lay back person, easygoing and unobtrusive.
He is helpful for any needs and has a strong passion for Inca culture. During the time spent with us he was always willing to answer all our questions about Peruvian life and culture!
If I should give him a vote ... I will promote him with a 9!!!