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Tours in and around Cusco
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Tours
in and around Cusco range from a half-day city tour to an expedition by light aircraft or a full-on adventure down to the Amazon.
Prices
range from $20 to over $100 a day, and service and facilities vary considerably, so check exactly what's provided, whether insurance is included and whether the guide speaks English. The main agents are strung along three sides of the Plaza de Armas, along Portal de Panes, Portal de Confiturias and Portal Comercio, up Procuradores and along the
calles
Plateros and Saphi and, although prices vary, many are selling places on the same tours and treks, so always hunt around. Avoid the
tour touts
at the airport or in the plaza at Cusco, and check out the operators in advance at the South American Explorers' Club if you're able to (members also receive a discount with some outfits). There are also a few Lima-based operators in and around Cusco.
Standard tours around the city, Sacred Valley and to Machu Picchu range from a basic bus service with fixed stops and little in the way of a guide, to a luxury packages including guide, food and hotel transfers. The three- to six-day Inca Trail is the most popular of the mountain treks , with thousands of people hiking it every year; many agencies offer trips with guides, equipment and fixed itineraries, but others will just rent you a tent and sleeping bag. Other popular hikes are around the snow-capped mountains of Salcantay (6264m) to the north and Ausungate (6372m) to the south, a more remote trek which needs at least a week plus guides and mules. Less adventurous walks or horse rides are possible to Qenko, Tambo Machay, Puca Pucara and Chacan, in the hills above Cusco and in the nearby Sacred Valley. You can also rent out mountain bikes for trips to the Sacred Valley and around, and some outfits arrange guided tours (or contact Renny Gamarra Loaiza, a good biking guide; tel 231300). Many jungle trip operators are based in Cusco, some also covering the immediate Cusco area.
Cusco is also a great
whitewater rafting
centre, with easy access to classes two to five around Ollantaytambo on the RAo Urubamba and classes one to three between Huambutio and Pisac, on the RAo Vilcanota. From Calca to Urubamba the river runs classes two to three, but this rises to five in the rainy season. Calca to Pisac (Huaran) and Ollantaytambo to Chilca are among the most popular routes, while the most dangerous are further afield on the RAo Apurimac. The easiest stretch is from Echarate to San Baray, which passes by Quillabamba. Remember that most travel insurances exclude this kind of adventure activity and always ensure that you are fully equipped with a safety kayak, helmets, and lifejackets. Other useful information
for tourists (each section contains more specific sub-sections): |
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Peru,
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