UJ #18 - In love in Peru

HARVEY
MARTÍNEZ
OFFICIAL TOUR GUIDE
FOR THE LAST 17 YEARS, HARVEY HAS BEEN SHARING HIS ENTHUSIASM
FOR PERU WITH PASSENGERS FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD. HIS
UNDENIABLE PASSION FOR HIS WORK HAS GOTTEN HIM THE
ATTENTION OF NUMEROUS INTERNATIONAL AGENCIES, LIKE DISNEY.
When it comes to travel, a great guide can go a long way.
A leader with good energy, ample knowledge, and the
ability to connect with others can easily transform simple
experiences into memorable ones.
When it comes to family vacations, the guide is often
a key component in securing the bond between all
members of the group. In this interview, Harvey Martinez,
an official LimaTours guide with 17 years of experience,
shares his thoughts on what makes Peru such a special
and unforgettable destination.
passengers leave asking questions, when they say: “I
need to learn more about the Incas, I had no idea.” If
they don’t ask questions, I feel as though I haven’t done
a good enough job.
Christian Declercq
What made you want to become a guide?
Harvey: I was always involved in the business because
my father is a guide as well. But the main reason was
the Inca Trail. When I was younger, he asked me to
accompany him as his assistant on a trek. Up to that
point, I had no idea what I wanted to do, but the trek
had such an impact on me that I decided to follow in my
father’s footsteps and study to become a guide.
What do you most enjoy about your job?
Harvey: That I get to show off my country and culture.
There are people who arrive with a preconceived notion
of what they are going to encounter, but when they
see all the new details and studies, they are shocked
with how special Peru really is. I feel satisfied when
The Inca Trail, one of the most popular treks in the
world, unites Ollantaytambo with Machu Picchu
19