My wife & I are planning a round the world trip for March 2005. We would dearly love to visit Peru (especially Cuscu & Machu Picchu). We hope to fly into lima (which is covered on our one world flight destinations )& then have a tour company meet us. Can you recommend any tour company that caters for small groups that would organise transfers, hotels & train journey from cusco to machu picchu &/or over night in Aguas Calientes. Any help would be appreciated

Try R. Crusoe & Sons out of Chicago. They do wonderful small tours. We used them to China.

http://www.rcrusoe.com/

Hi mervync,

check out the folks at peruperu.com

they have intimate knowledge about visiting machu picchu and the sacred valley and can give personal attention to every detail of your trip within peru.

happy trails,
davarian

March is low season in Peru. It would be extremely easy to arrange evething, hotels, transportations, even the now impossible Inca Trails. When you get to Lima, you can buy a flight ticket at the airport to Cuzco for the same day, or next morning if you arrive late in the evening, guaranteed. When you get to Cuzco, all hotels will have vacancies and there are tons of good next door local tour agencies for you to choose from. You don't need a tour company to restrict your flexibility all the way through your stay in Peru. What if you feel that Lima is an interesting city(it is!) and suddendly decide that you want to spend one more day there? I guess you'd wish that you are on your own without being "organized".

I would suggest you contact Denise at Lost World Adventures. She handled everything for three friends and me. We had our own van, driver and guide for MP, Aguas Calientes, Cusco, the Sacred Valley and Lima. She is really great to work with and knows Peru well.

You can also try Andestrip.com. They really are wonderfull. I've tried them and could not have been happier with the tour.
They'll also give you info on anything else you might want. I do know they have an office in Lima.
Hope you have a great trip.

Thanks everyone for all your advice you've been of great help

Has anyone used Abercrombie and Kent for this trip?

http://www.explorandes.com

We used their services through Rutahsa Adventures in 1999.

-Sharon

I highly recommend Southwind Adventures which specializes in small groups and has some excellent options for what you are wanting to do. The quality of what they offer is first rate and they deliver as promised--high on integrity. You may find my report and photos of a similar trip worth looking at both for your own anticipation and to get a feel as to how Southwind operates. Just goto this address

http://www.janeandken.com/Machu_Picc...ed_Valley.html

Hope this helps.