Tours of Cusco, the Sacred Valley & Machu Picchu

The typical tour of the Cusco region combines the city with the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu in three whirlwind days, including the full boleto turístico. We recommend devoting five days to get the most out of your visit—including one day to get acclimated to the high altitude.

Many excellent tour operators and travel agents are in Cusco, and some have offices in Lima. Several companies specialize in adventure tours, others in rafting excursions, still others in llama-assisted treks.

Several outfitters offer rafting trips on the Río Urubamba, close enough to Cusco to be done as a day excursion from the city. The river is navigable year-round, with rains turning it into a Class V from November-May, but a more manageable Class III the rest of the year. All also do multiday trips to the Río Apurimac, outside the Sacred Valley south of Cusco, during its May-December rafting season.

Selecting a Travel Agency

"Holaaaa—trip to Machu Picchu?" With so many touts in Cusco's streets hawking tours to Peru's most famous sight, it's tempting to just buy one in order to make them stop asking. Anyone who offers an Inca Trail trek departing tomorrow should be taken with more than a grain of salt—Inca Trail walks need to be booked months in advance. Don't make arrangements or give money to someone claiming to be a travel agent if they approach you on the street or at the airport in Cusco or Lima. Instead choose an agency that has a physical address. Better yet, select one that is listed in this book or on www.peru.info. Below are several reputable travel agencies.

Action Valley operates an adventure park near Poroy with double-cord bungee jumping, catapault swing, paragliding, and environmentally friendly paintball. Guides speak German and Hebrew in addition to English and Spanish. Santa Teresa 325, Cusco. 084/240-835. www.actionvalley.com.

Amazing Peru organizes group and individual guided tours, including two types of trips to Cusco and Machu Picchu. Transportation services and accommodations are top-notch, and the guides are flexible and extremely helpful. 01/243-7704 in Lima; 800/704-2915 in North America. www.amazingperu.com.

Andina Travel specializes in trekking, especially alternatives to the Inca Trail, as well as offering all the standard Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu tours. Plazoleta Santa Catalina 219, Cusco. 084/251-892. www.andinatravel.com.

Tame rafting trips on the Urubamba River are operated year-round by Apumayo Expediciones Garcilaso 265, Cusco. 084/246-018. www.apumayo.com.

Enigma specializes in small, customized adventure trips throughout the region. Enjoy trekking, rafting, mountain climbing, mountain biking, or horseback riding led by professional guides. Jr. Clorinda Mato de Turner 100, Cusco. 084/222-155. www.enigmaperu.com.

Explorandes is large and long-running company that organizes customized guided trips and expeditions through the Andes in Peru and Ecuador, including rafting and trekking trips around Cusco. Av. Garcilazo 316, Cusco. 084/238-380; 01/445-0532 in Lima. www.explorandes.com.

Globos de los Andes floats you above the Sacred Valley on hot-air balloon tours. Av. de la Cultura 220, Cusco. 084/232-352. www.globosperu.com.

Inkaterra is a top-end agency specializing in nature-orientated trips to Machu Picchu, but can customize tours that include Cusco and the Sacred Valley with however much guide accompaniment as you need. Andalucía 174, Miraflores, Lima. 01/610-0400 in Lima; 084/245-314 in Cusco; 800/442-5042 toll-free in North America. www.inkaterra.com.

Instinct leads Cusco city tours, Inca Trail hikes, walking and rafting trips along the Tambopata River, and more. Av. de la Cultura 1318, Cusco. Calle 25 No. 129, San Isidro, Lima. 084/233-451. www.instinct-travel.com.

Marle's Travel Adventure offers trekking excursions and rents or sells camping equipment, in addition to doing all the standard Sacred Valley tours. Plateros 328, Cusco. 084/233-680. marlestraveladventure@yahoo.com.

Mayuc is known for its rafting excursions but also offers good city and Sacred Valley tours. Portal de Confiturías 211, Haukaypata, Plaza de Armas, Cusco. 084/242-824. www.mayuc.com.

Overseas Adventure Travel offers fully escorted 11-day tours of Cusco and the surrounding region with groups no larger than 16 people. A popular OAT add-on is a trip to Ecuador's Galápagos Islands. 800/493-6824 in North America. www.oattravel.com.

River Explorers takes you on one- to six-day rafting and kayaking excursions on the Urubamba and Apurimac rivers, and offers the standard trekking tours. Plateros 328, Cusco. 084/233-680. www.riverexplorers.com.

Urubamba-based Sacred Valley Mountain Bike Tours rents mountain bikes for $25 per day and $15 per half-day, and leads cycling excursions throughout the valley. Jr. Convención s/n, Urubamba. 084/201-331. www.machawasi.com.

Cusco-based SAS Travel has made a name for itself in trekking circles, but can also customize tours and accommodations in the region. Garcilaso 270. Portal de Panes 167, Haukaypata, Plaza de Armas. 084/249-194 or 084/255-205. www.sastravelperu.com.

Swissraft-Peru runs multiday trips on class II, II, IV, and V rapids. Heladeros 129, Cusco. 084/264-124. www.swissraft-peru.com.

For a tame adventurer, Wilderness Travel has a Peru Llama Trek that follows an off-Inca trail route to Machu Picchu where llamas carry your gear and you have the trail to yourself until near the end. 1102 9th St., Berkeley, CA, 94710. 510/558-2488; 800/368-2794 in U.S. www.wildernesstravel.com.

Mainly for experienced adventurers, X-treme Tourbulencia leads mountain climbing and biking, trekking, and multisport trips. Plateros 358, Cusco. 084/224-362. www.x-tremetourbulencia.com.