We just returned from 3 weeks in Peru. We are not fond of tours and prefer going solo. However, this time we made an exception and were not disappointed.

For Cusco/Sacred Valley/Machu Picchu: on the recommednation of a friend we used South Adventure Peru Tours in the San Blas section of Cusco. We took 3 separate tours as listed, 3 tour guides, all group tours(not private). Every tour was done by a knowledgeable and engaging guide, one of whom was an ex-professor of Peruvian history and precolumbian art who was just wonderful on our Sacred Valley tour. Ruben Coronafo, the owner, was most helpful and diligent in helping us arrange the tours, and so helpful in terms of making sure we got to where we needed to be when we needed to be there. His company does tours throughout Peru and I understand from my friend that his Inca Trail tours are also quite wonderful.

For Arequipa/Colca Canyon: based on recommendations on TripAdvisor, we used Carlitos Tours in Arequipa a relatively new company without much of a track record yet. We could Ot have been happier. On this trip we did a private 2 day, 1 night to the Colca Canyon. our guide, Marcelo, was a delight and seemed to know about even the most trivial question. it is clear he absolutely loves his job and devotes lots of personal effort to become even more knowledgeable. Carlitos, the owner, met with us the night befoe iur trip to be sure we knew exactly what to exoect and to make sure he got paid. Do be aware that he expects cash, which caused a few anxious moments for all of us. We thought the orice was a littke but steep until we went on the tour, and then we knew it was reasonable.

You can't go wrong with either of these two companies. If you use them, your trip will be so easy and painless, you'll wonder why you ever spent your own effort figuring things out!