Guillermo Rendón Cuadros:the most famous tour guide in Arequipa speaks out

by César Ballón

Guillermo Carlos Rendón Cuadros is his full name and he is the most successful and recognized tour guide from Arequipa. His fame comes not from his sports career as a downhill mountainbiker and martial artist but as a tour guide involved in the promotion of Colca Canyon as one of the natural marvels of the world.

Guillermo Carlos Rendón Cuadros is the actual secretary of the local tour guides association from Colca Canyon ASGUIP TUCAY and named spokesperson of the native people from Caylloma province where one of the deepest canyons in the world is located.

Guillermo Rendón has declared a frontal war against ABUSIVE TOUR GUIDES COMMISSIONS and against AUTHORITIES CORRUPTION which is a cancer that is affecting tourism in Colca Canyon. Tourism doesn´t benefit all the people in Colca Canyon just a group of businessmen who manipulate authorities.

The fight started when a corrupted director of tourism of Arequipa wanted to cancel local tour guides from Colca Canyon. Tour guides association from Arequipa backed up the idea. The voice of the leader was heard and a revolt started.

Sustainable Tourism is an unknown word in the lexicon of the travel agencies from Arequipa.
For the locals Guillermo Rendón Cuadros is the Mallku Jaqe or the Kondor Man, which is the name of a mountainbiking raid that took place in Colca Canyon area. In that time , Guillermo Rendón took part in this mountainbiking champions raid which started from the top of a mountain at 5;100 meters and after a three day adventure the cyclists arrived to the Pacific Ocean. The distance covered was more than 500 kilometers.

But at the same time Mallku Jaqe has other meaning. In the Inca religion, a Mallku or a Condor is a person who has inherited the inca ancient knowledge and traditions. Rendón is considered also as a Chaka Runa or Man Bridge a person who has the knowledge of the Mother Culture (Inca) and The Father Culture (Spanish).

Guillermo Rendón Cuadros is not only a tour guide or a well-known sportsman. He was a teacher and he taught Philosophy, History and his specialty :Comparative and Inca Religion. Others considered him as the Tupac Amaru or Shining Snake who fought against the abusive conquistadors. Guillermo Rendón doesn´t offer his clients just “empty explanations” but a real experience with the inca culture.

The reaction of the tour guides from Arequipa was expected. Slanderous blogs against his person were done with the purpose of taking away from tourism through attacking his good imagen.
Involved in the creation of this campaign against him are travel agencies from Arequipa whose interests in keeping this unbearable situation are notorious. A student from Chivay who defended the right of the natives through his web page was killed in Chivay. His body was thrown to Colca River.

Rendón is still there like a mountain. His power according to him comes from the Truth. The Truth for him is the evidence collected during more than 15 years that shows all the corruption of tourism in Arequipa. Most of the tour guides and travel agencies from Arequipa are considered by the locals as PARASITES who lived from commissions obtained from the locals and from the tourists.

Guillermo Carlos Rendón Cuadros was declared by the major of Chivay as ADOPTIVE SON OF CAYLLOMA PROVINCE because of his labour in the DEFENSE OF THE RIGHTS OF THE NATIVE PEOPLE FROM COLCA VALLEY AND COLCA CANYON.

He is the only tour guide in all Arequipa Region that has received such condecoration and such honour.

Guillermo Rendón Cuadros is until the moment the most awarded tour guide from Arequipa and nothing can be done to stop the Condor Man who has announced publicly the FALL OF THE CORRUPTED ONES AND THE BEGINNING OF THE REAL SUSTAINABLE TOURISM IS COLCA CANYON.

The Colca Specialist would like to thank association of local tour guides ASGUIP TUCAY for having us provided the pictures of this significant ceremonial where Guillermo Carlos Rendón Cuadros WAS DECLARED ADOPTIVE SON OF CAYLLOMA PROVICE.

The ceremonial was performed in Chivay´s main square. It was a small but significative ceremonial.

The patriotic ceremonial is about to start and an association of nurses and the representative of mothers´s association were present in the ceremonial.

Guillermo Carlos Rendón Cuadros singing the national anthem with the hand on the chest.Symbol that the country´s noble ideals are in our hearts.



Guillermo Carlos Rendón Cuadros, the adoptive son of Caylloma province was invited to raise the flag of Caylloma province,a honour never given to anybody but to authorities.

The protocol is important too. A policeman is telling the Governor of Caylloma province that the ceremonial is over.






Inside th Townhall of Chivay, the representative of the major will proceed with the awards ceremonial.

The Governor giving a message to the people of Chivay about the importance of fullfilling our roles in society.

Guillermo Rendón speaking about the importance of sustainable tourism and the importance of preserving the cultural identity of our peoples.

We cannot be indiferent with the suffering of our people! There is still a lot to be done and each one of us has to become a promoter of our cultural values.! -said the adoptive son during the ceremonial that was filmed and watch by millions of peruvians in national TV.

The Major of Caylloma province giving a condecoration to Guillermo Carlos Rendón Cuadros declaring him AS ADOPTIVE SON OF CAYLLOMA PROVINCE FOR DEFENDING THE RIGHT OF THE NATIVE COMMUNAS AND FOR ITS OUTSTANDING WORK IN THE PROMOTION OF COLCA CANYON AND IN THE PRESERVATION OF THE NATIVES CULTURAL IDENTITY.

The secretary of local tour guides association ASGUIP TUCAY from Caylloma province giving an award to the USAM which is a Mountain Rescue Unit in Chivay. They are the ones who are risking their lives for tourists that sometimes don´t recognize the labour of these brave policemen.

The Colca Specialist Crew would like to thank our readers for their time and the same time for backing us up in the diffussion of the culture and traditions from Colca Canyon and Peru.

Thank you very much !

Guillermo Rendón Cuadros:the most famous tour guide in Arequipa speaks out

by César Ballón

Guillermo Carlos Rendón Cuadros is his full name and he is the most successful and recognized tour guide from Arequipa. His fame comes not from his sports career as a downhill mountainbiker and martial artist but as a tour guide involved in the promotion of Colca Canyon as one of the natural marvels of the world.

Guillermo Carlos Rendón Cuadros is the actual secretary of the local tour guides association from Colca Canyon ASGUIP TUCAY and named spokesperson of the native people from Caylloma province where one of the deepest canyons in the world is located.

Guillermo Rendón has declared a frontal war against ABUSIVE TOUR GUIDES COMMISSIONS and against AUTHORITIES CORRUPTION which is a cancer that is affecting tourism in Colca Canyon. Tourism doesn´t benefit all the people in Colca Canyon just a group of businessmen who manipulate authorities.

The fight started when a corrupted director of tourism of Arequipa wanted to cancel local tour guides from Colca Canyon. Tour guides association from Arequipa backed up the idea. The voice of the leader was heard and a revolt started.

Sustainable Tourism is an unknown word in the lexicon of the travel agencies from Arequipa.
For the locals Guillermo Rendón Cuadros is the Mallku Jaqe or the Kondor Man, which is the name of a mountainbiking raid that took place in Colca Canyon area. In that time , Guillermo Rendón took part in this mountainbiking champions raid which started from the top of a mountain at 5;100 meters and after a three day adventure the cyclists arrived to the Pacific Ocean. The distance covered was more than 500 kilometers.

But at the same time Mallku Jaqe has other meaning. In the Inca religion, a Mallku or a Condor is a person who has inherited the inca ancient knowledge and traditions. Rendón is considered also as a Chaka Runa or Man Bridge a person who has the knowledge of the Mother Culture (Inca) and The Father Culture (Spanish).

Guillermo Rendón Cuadros is not only a tour guide or a well-known sportsman. He was a teacher and he taught Philosophy, History and his specialty :Comparative and Inca Religion. Others considered him as the Tupac Amaru or Shining Snake who fought against the abusive conquistadors. Guillermo Rendón doesn´t offer his clients just “empty explanations” but a real experience with the inca culture.

The reaction of the tour guides from Arequipa was expected. Slanderous blogs against his person were done with the purpose of taking away from tourism through attacking his good imagen.
Involved in the creation of this campaign against him are travel agencies from Arequipa whose interests in keeping this unbearable situation are notorious. A student from Chivay who defended the right of the natives through his web page was killed in Chivay. His body was thrown to Colca River.

Rendón is still there like a mountain. His power according to him comes from the Truth. The Truth for him is the evidence collected during more than 15 years that shows all the corruption of tourism in Arequipa. Most of the tour guides and travel agencies from Arequipa are considered by the locals as PARASITES who lived from commissions obtained from the locals and from the tourists.

Guillermo Carlos Rendón Cuadros was declared by the major of Chivay as ADOPTIVE SON OF CAYLLOMA PROVINCE because of his labour in the DEFENSE OF THE RIGHTS OF THE NATIVE PEOPLE FROM COLCA VALLEY AND COLCA CANYON.
He is the only tour guide in all Arequipa Region that has received such condecoration and such honour.

Guillermo Rendón Cuadros is until the moment the most awarded tour guide from Arequipa and nothing can be done to stop the Condor Man who has announced publicly the FALL OF THE CORRUPTED ONES AND THE BEGINNING OF THE REAL SUSTAINABLE TOURISM IS COLCA CANYON.

The Colca Specialist would like to thank association of local tour guides ASGUIP TUCAY for having us provided the pictures of this significant ceremonial where Guillermo Carlos Rendón Cuadros WAS DECLARED ADOPTIVE SON OF CAYLLOMA PROVICE.

The ceremonial was performed in Chivay´s main square. It was a small but significative ceremonial.

The patriotic ceremonial is about to start and an association of nurses and the representative of mothers´s association were present in the ceremonial.

Guillermo Carlos Rendón Cuadros singing the national anthem with the hand on the chest.Symbol that the country´s noble ideals are in our hearts.



Guillermo Carlos Rendón Cuadros, the adoptive son of Caylloma province was invited to raise the flag of Caylloma province,a honour never given to anybody but to authorities.

The protocol is important too. A policeman is telling the Governor of Caylloma province that the ceremonial is over.






Inside th Townhall of Chivay, the representative of the major will proceed with the awards ceremonial.

The Governor giving a message to the people of Chivay about the importance of fullfilling our roles in society.

Guillermo Rendón speaking about the importance of sustainable tourism and the importance of preserving the cultural identity of our peoples.

We cannot be indiferent with the suffering of our people! There is still a lot to be done and each one of us has to become a promoter of our cultural values.! -said the adoptive son during the ceremonial that was filmed and watch by millions of peruvians in national TV.

The Major of Caylloma province giving a condecoration to Guillermo Carlos Rendón Cuadros declaring him AS ADOPTIVE SON OF CAYLLOMA PROVINCE FOR DEFENDING THE RIGHT OF THE NATIVE COMMUNAS AND FOR ITS OUTSTANDING WORK IN THE PROMOTION OF COLCA CANYON AND IN THE PRESERVATION OF THE NATIVES CULTURAL IDENTITY.

The secretary of local tour guides association ASGUIP TUCAY from Caylloma province giving an award to the USAM which is a Mountain Rescue Unit in Chivay. They are the ones who are risking their lives for tourists that sometimes don´t recognize the labour of these brave policemen.

The Colca Specialist Crew would like to thank our readers for their time and the same time for backing us up in the diffussion of the culture and traditions from Colca Canyon and Peru.

Thank you very much !

Stay away from the crowds with Naturaleza Activa

by Paul Bellinger

Naturaleza is highly rated by lonely planet and footprint. I've taken several trips with Eduardo (Lalo) and Guillermo Rendon and will continue traveling with them any time I am in Arequipa. Our trip to Colca Canyon was three days and two nights. What sets Naturaleza apart from the other guide companies is that they keep you away from the large crowds of other tourists, taking special routes that other guides do not use or do not know about.

Time and time again we would be ahead of the crowds. I never felt like we were just following all the other tourists around the typical loop in the canyon. On the first day we descended into the canyon and saw no other tourists at all, only locals with their mules. We stayed in an amazing "familiar home," (Roy's in San Juan de Chucho) which doesn't mean we slept on the floor of someone's house, but that we stayed with a family who has built several cozy little cottages on their property and who cooked a traditional dinner and breakfast for us.

Roy's had no electricity, but had plenty of hot water to shower up and great food. The next day we beat the crowds again. We stopped at the museum on our way to the Oasis, just like most tours do, but we got there before them, didn't have to wait in line, and were on our way out when the crowds showed up.

One of our guides (Lalo) went ahead to the Oasis and reserved us a spot at the best pool while preparing fresh fruit for a snack. We had lunch there and swam at the pool for a few hours. The views were awesome and the pool was nice and cool after a long morning of hiking. Then we climbed out of the canyon in the afternoon, once the sun had receded a bit so it wasn't too hot.

Everything was planned perfectly and I wouldn't expect any less from the Colca Specialists at Naturaleza. We stayed at a hotel on the second night in Cabonaconde, where again, our guides reserved us a table for dinner while other tourists were waiting in line to get a table.

Naturaleza has a huge advantage when it comes to providing the best service for their customers, not just because they specialize in Colca trips and have lots of experience, but because everywhere they go they are warmly greeted by the locals who go out of their way to help their friends at Naturaleza provide the best experience for their customers.

I couldn't count the number of old ladies that lit up when they saw Guillermo and rushed to give him a kiss. He's more than a tour guide, he's an adopted son of the region and everyone treats him as such. He's an adopted son of the region (officially) because he stands up for the local communities against other big tour companies that trample on the local culture while trying to profit from tourism.

Check the blog "The Colca Specialist" for details on Guillermo's activism in the community. Once you read it, you'll never think twice about going with another tour company. Lalo (Eduardo) the owner of Naturaleza was also amazing, and always at our service. From serving us food to taking away our dirty plates, Lalo was always there to help us and the locals.

While other tour guides just sit there while the restaurant servers take care of their customers, Lalo does it himself. No wonder the locals love him, he doesn't treat them like servants. On the third day we went to the Cruz del Condor, the only time we were immersed in a big crowd of tourists. And it wasn't a problem, there were so many Condors that they attract a big crowd.

After the condors we went to Chivay for the hot springs. Again, it was not crowded at all when we got there, but as we were leaving, the parking lot was a total traffic jam of tour companies and hikers wanting to relax after some tough hiking. We went to a nice buffet for lunch and again, by the time we were leaving there was a huge line for the buffet and we were already stuffed and on our way.

Like I said, Naturaleza keeps you ahead of the crowd at every turn. They keep your stomach full of awesome food, your head full of information about the local cultures, and your legs tired from great hiking. By the end of the trip I felt like I was actually ripping them off when I thought about all of the food, hotels, hot springs, pools, and overall amazing service that I got for my money.

I truly couldn't believe how amazing everything went and that there were no miscellaneous charges for all of the cool stuff we did. I highly recommend Naturaleza Activa for any trip in the Arequipa area, but especially Colca Canyon, as they are truly the Colca Specialists.

You'll be traveling with the owner of the company himself who takes every effort to provide the best service possible. And if you get the privilege of going with Guillermo, you'll be with the adopted son of the region, the secretary general of the tourist association of the province, and a man who stands side by side with the local people as they struggle to cope with the reality of tourism in their communities. Don't think twice, go with Naturaleza!

Stay away from the crowds with Naturaleza Activa

by Paul Bellinger

Naturaleza is highly rated by lonely planet and footprint. I've taken several trips with Eduardo (Lalo) and Guillermo Rendon and will continue traveling with them any time I am in Arequipa. Our trip to Colca Canyon was three days and two nights. What sets Naturaleza apart from the other guide companies is that they keep you away from the large crowds of other tourists, taking special routes that other guides do not use or do not know about.

Time and time again we would be ahead of the crowds. I never felt like we were just following all the other tourists around the typical loop in the canyon. On the first day we descended into the canyon and saw no other tourists at all, only locals with their mules. We stayed in an amazing "familiar home," (Roy's in San Juan de Chucho) which doesn't mean we slept on the floor of someone's house, but that we stayed with a family who has built several cozy little cottages on their property and who cooked a traditional dinner and breakfast for us.

Roy's had no electricity, but had plenty of hot water to shower up and great food. The next day we beat the crowds again. We stopped at the museum on our way to the Oasis, just like most tours do, but we got there before them, didn't have to wait in line, and were on our way out when the crowds showed up.

One of our guides (Lalo) went ahead to the Oasis and reserved us a spot at the best pool while preparing fresh fruit for a snack. We had lunch there and swam at the pool for a few hours. The views were awesome and the pool was nice and cool after a long morning of hiking. Then we climbed out of the canyon in the afternoon, once the sun had receded a bit so it wasn't too hot.

Everything was planned perfectly and I wouldn't expect any less from the Colca Specialists at Naturaleza. We stayed at a hotel on the second night in Cabonaconde, where again, our guides reserved us a table for dinner while other tourists were waiting in line to get a table.

Naturaleza has a huge advantage when it comes to providing the best service for their customers, not just because they specialize in Colca trips and have lots of experience, but because everywhere they go they are warmly greeted by the locals who go out of their way to help their friends at Naturaleza provide the best experience for their customers.

I couldn't count the number of old ladies that lit up when they saw Guillermo and rushed to give him a kiss. He's more than a tour guide, he's an adopted son of the region and everyone treats him as such. He's an adopted son of the region (officially) because he stands up for the local communities against other big tour companies that trample on the local culture while trying to profit from tourism.

Check the blog "The Colca Specialist" for details on Guillermo's activism in the community. Once you read it, you'll never think twice about going with another tour company. Lalo (Eduardo) the owner of Naturaleza was also amazing, and always at our service. From serving us food to taking away our dirty plates, Lalo was always there to help us and the locals.

While other tour guides just sit there while the restaurant servers take care of their customers, Lalo does it himself. No wonder the locals love him, he doesn't treat them like servants. On the third day we went to the Cruz del Condor, the only time we were immersed in a big crowd of tourists. And it wasn't a problem, there were so many Condors that they attract a big crowd.

After the condors we went to Chivay for the hot springs. Again, it was not crowded at all when we got there, but as we were leaving, the parking lot was a total traffic jam of tour companies and hikers wanting to relax after some tough hiking. We went to a nice buffet for lunch and again, by the time we were leaving there was a huge line for the buffet and we were already stuffed and on our way.

Like I said, Naturaleza keeps you ahead of the crowd at every turn. They keep your stomach full of awesome food, your head full of information about the local cultures, and your legs tired from great hiking. By the end of the trip I felt like I was actually ripping them off when I thought about all of the food, hotels, hot springs, pools, and overall amazing service that I got for my money.

I truly couldn't believe how amazing everything went and that there were no miscellaneous charges for all of the cool stuff we did. I highly recommend Naturaleza Activa for any trip in the Arequipa area, but especially Colca Canyon, as they are truly the Colca Specialists.

You'll be traveling with the owner of the company himself who takes every effort to provide the best service possible. And if you get the privilege of going with Guillermo, you'll be with the adopted son of the region, the secretary general of the tourist association of the province, and a man who stands side by side with the local people as they struggle to cope with the reality of tourism in their communities. Don't think twice, go with Naturaleza!