#43 Carlos | Guide of Machu Picchu, Peru

前言: 今次遊覽馬丘比丘我選擇先係熱水鎮住一晚，再一早搭巴士上山。一落巴士，已經見到好多遊客，亦見到好多導賞員企係到「招徠」，今次我就係呢個神秘山城遇到 Carlos。

1. Can you share with us your job background?

I have been working as a tour guide for about 11 years, with the first 7 years working as a guide of the Inca Trail and now about 3 years a guide of Machu Picchu.

K: Why did you switch from the former to a guide of Machu Picchu?

As you know the Inca Trail tour is a 4 days-3 nights trip. The total distance is about 42km, and there are a lot of slopes to climb, sometimes under rain and snow. I feel that there’s a problem with my knee and I decided to switch.

K: Do you miss the time working for the Inca Trail tour?

Yes I do, but it’s much easier to work as a guide of Machu Picchu.

K: How many tours do you have a day?

It depends on the season. Like now we are at low season and I usually have 2. I have 3-4 during the peak season.

K: Do you work 7 days a week here?

Almost. Machu Picchu opens everyday and that’s why I’m almost here, unless I have to buy something from Cuzco then I will take a break.

2. Do you have to undergo a lot of training to be a guide here?

Yes we have to study a lot. The government has a high standard on guided here and one must know a second language to be a recognised guide.

In the past, everyone can be a guide as long as you love the Inca culture.

K: Are only local people eligible to be a guide?

Nowadays we have foreigner guides too, and even Chinese guide.

3. What do you like best about Machu Picchu?

The architecture for sure.

A lot of experts are so impressed with this site and I would love to share more to tourists.

At the same time I learn from tourists too as I meet different people everyday.

4. Machu Picchu is a very special place to foreigners. How about to local people? Do they feel the same?

Not really. Local people don’t find it as mysterious as foreigners do. Some locals do not respect the place and even destroy the site when they visit the place. I guess it’s normal they don’t find it special because the locals can see it everyday.

5. The government now sets a rule that tourists should be accompanied by a local guide in the site. What do you think about this regulation?

I think it’s good.

Actually in the past many tourists died here because of carelessness or they tried to climb the rock. The guide can tell the tourists what should not be done.

It is important to protect this place because we want to preserve the culture and share it to the future generations too.

後記: 去馬丘比丘遊客眾多，企係門口嘅導賞員數目亦不少，感覺你遇到邊個導賞員全靠緣份同一下的眼神接觸。Carlos 分享自己鍾意馬丘比丘嘅建築，亦希望有朝一日可以到訪中國萬里長城大開眼界，感受呢個中國嘅地標。