About Us
AB Expeditions: A 100% Locally-Owned and Operated Tour Company
AB Expeditions is a 100% Peruvian and professionally-licensed tour operator and adventure travel company based in the city of Cusco, Peru. It was founded by Abel Quillahuaman and Elsa Turpo, who are Peruvian hiking experts with over 16 years of tour guiding experience. We operate treks, guided hiking tours to Machu Picchu and Rainbow Mountain as well as adventure travel all throughout Peru, along with a strong commitment to sustainable, ethical, and responsible travel.
We have been operating trips and hikes since 2014, and will provide you with the very best experience possible. From your first steps into Peru to when you return home to tell your friends and family about the magic of Machu Picchu and Rainbow Mountain – we will guide you every step of the way.
The people
Our team
Each of our staff members have been directly hand-picked by our team, meaning you will be in the best hands throughout your travels. From our certified local guides to our specialized staff – we will cover all of your travel needs. Safety is our focus, and adventure is our passion. Let our local team lead you through the life-changing trip that you have been dreaming about!
Abel was born in the town of Ch´usso, which is located within the countryside of Cusco. He grew up speaking the Quechua language, where he went to school and high school in his local village. After finishing high school, he then began working as a porter for one year – where he was often mistreated given there was not enough food for porters, and often had to carry over 40 kg of supplies.
After saving up enough money, Abel then applied to a local institute called Tupac Amaru where he studied for 3 years to become a licensed tour guide. He then worked in Cusco as a tour guide for different travel companies for around 7 years. There he witnessed first-hand how various travel agencies were abusing their employees, such as the cooks, porters and guides. They were reckless with the health and safety of their workers, and showed total disregard towards their own wellbeing. This included paying them low wages (which were rarely on-time) and not being treated fairly. Abel himself was cheated a couple of times for his services as a tour guide, where he never received payments.
That was when he decided to leave and start AB Expeditions – a licensed tour company which not only leads incredible tours, but also provides a better service for all local workers whilst improving industry standards.
Elsa was born in the village of Pampacancha, which is located close to Ausangate Mountain (the 5th highest mountain in all Peru). She studied both at school and high school in her village, and then worked as a porter on the Inca Trail like her father had done before her. She found it difficult given the excessive weight that had to be carried, so instead became a cook on the Inca Trail and many other alternative treks that ended in Machu Picchu such as: Salkantay trek, Lares Trek, Ausangate trek. .
Elsa began as an assistant cook helping to carry the equipment, and then worked as a head cook for around 3 years. During this time she also saw how the porters and cooks were often mistreated, paid little and had to carry very heavy loads. Similar to Abel, Elsa wanted to do something to change this and help improve working standards for porters and workers all over the region. She then decided to become a tour guide, where she applied to the Antonio Institute and studied for 4 years. She then led tours for 3 years to throughout the region, before meeting Abel where they together launched AB Expeditions in 2016.
She is in charge of all our cooks, the training for porters, environmental policies as well as our social projects. You will often see Elsa with our group tours when visiting local schools.
Our professional tour guides have vast experience running treks throughout the region. They know the best and safest routes to take, how to deal with local animals and also have inside knowledge of the cultural heritage of the sites that you are visiting…
Being a cook for the Inca Trail or any alternative trek to Machu Picchu is not at all easy. Our cook and porters must carry all the needed ingredients for each day’s meals, set up the kitchen tent, whilst also cooking some of the best meals you will eat when in the Cusco region…
At AB Expeditions, we make sure all of our porters are looked-after properly. Every porter that works with us receives high-quality equipment, uniforms and padded-strap backpacks. Most importantly, we pay a fair wage for their work and continue to do our best to improve the industry standards…
Our office staff are a strong foundation of AB Expeditions, and help to keep everything running optimally. They are always friendly, courteous and are ready to help you in any way that you need. From the moment you come to our office, you will be in safe hands…
We are proud to have some really amazing drivers as part of our crew. All of our drivers have more than 5 years driving experience in the region, and know how to safely navigate the often difficult mountain terrains. This includes when we head into the more remote areas too…
At AB Expeditions, we make sure all of our porters are looked-after properly. Every porter that works with us receives high-quality equipment, uniforms and padded-strap backpacks. Most importantly, we pay a fair wage for their work and continue to do our best to improve the industry standards…
on time
We respect your time. On all of our tours we will always pick you up on-time from your hotel or accommodation.
experienced
Our company prides itself in delivering the best experiences possible by connecting our travelers with the best local guides and experts in the region
Small groups
We focus on small groups and customized tours, which allows our clients to have the full attention of our guides and staff.
Our LICENSEs
AB Expeditions is an officially licensed tour operator in Peru, accredited by the Peruvian Ministry of Tourism (MINCETUR) via DIRCETUR Cusco and the Municipality of Cusco. Below you will see all the licenses that we have which are required to lead tours around the region.
