Hiring a driver in the Sacred Valley.....suggestions please
 

My husband and I will be flying into Cuzco September 18. We would like to hire a driver to take us directly to Pisac. The following day, after the Thursday market, we would like a driver to take us to Our hotel Iskay in Ollantayambo. We will explore Mach Pichu for a few days and then would like a driver to pick us up in Ollantayambo and drive us to Cuzco with a stop at Chinchero.

It would be lovely to be able to hire the same driver and maybe someone who can speak a bit of English and willing to make a few stops as we explore SV.

What is best way to obtain a driver in Arequipa to drive us to the Canyon Del Colca and return driver after a two night stay at the Canyon?

We normally do not do tours unless it is required.

Any thoughts would be helpful and appreciated.
Pepnjak

We had a lovely guide/driver in the SV - David Choque (in fact he also made all our travel arrangements). Here's his website and if you search this site you'll find lots of great reviews. He speaks excellent English, is a licensed guide and has a very comfortable van.

http://www.cuscotoptravelperu.com/index.html

I am pretty much looking for the same thing (we'll also be staying at Iskay). Most of the references online are for guides rather than drivers. While a guide can be nice, the prices for a few days are too high for my liking. I'd rather have a driver and 'guide' myself. I thought of writing to Iskay, maybe they can't arrange something themselves for us (they offered airport transport for 50 dollars, maybe a day driver would be around the 100?).

Ooops, I meant 'they can arrange something', my Swype decided tyo make it 'can't'

I did check with the Inn...a non English speaking driver for 4-5 hours is $95 from Pisac to hotel Iskay. I thought that was a little expensive. Elizabeth I will go to your suggested web site. Thanks

KBperu has about the same prices (actually a bit higher, 99dollars)
http://kbperu.com/more-info/transportation/


If it's of any help, I have the following names gathered from around the web (so just for info, I have no recommendations):

Percy Salas: [email protected]
David Choque: [email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
Agnes Moes,Responsible Travel: [email protected]
Victor Flores: [email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
David expeditions: [email protected] / [email protected] / [email protected]

Btw, for Arequipa and Colca Canyon we arranged with Killawasi Lodge. It seems to be highly recommended. I hope we won't have surprises.

They usually work with a pooled service for the Colca Canyon part but maybe they can arrange something private if you prefer that.

It should be about 60 soles for a taxi from Cusco airport to Pisac, if you hire it directly at the airport and depending on your bargaining skills. As you walk through the airport you will find prices decreasing as you get farther and farther away from the gate. If you expect to pay someone to come and wait for you at the airport with a meet and greet, it will be more. They are setting aside their time for you.

Last year, standard pricing for a tourist taxi from Pisac to Ollantaytambo was about 150 soles, with stops along the way. The taxi drivers have a set fee schedule that they use and in high season don't vary too much, since the next tourist will be along in a few minutes. The taxis leave from the bottom of town, near the bridge. There are sometimes various policemen or tourist agencies that can help you. (There is a little office near the bridge).

Anytime you arrange something in advance you can expect to pay about 2 or 3 times more. An English speaking guide is going to want $100 or $150 for a day's work.

That's also what I got from my "research". Booking on the spot costs about 60 dollars for the day while booking in advance about 100 dollars (80 dollars for half day, 4h max).

There are advantages and disadvantages. While I'm not a fan of the price difference, considering I will be travelling with all our luggage I'd like to have a place to complain to in case something goes wrong. Not that booking in advance is necessarily secure but it could potentially be more secure.




PS: mlgb, are you going to mistura this year? Or maybe I should open a separate thread about this :)

I haven't decided...although I need to!

Not much has been released yet about this year's version.

http://mistura.pe/Noticias/Detalle/L...idrobiologicos

My main advice if you will be there is to not go on the weekend if possible. And the first thing to line up for (assuming available) is the chancho al palo. Even if you don't feel like eating it at 11 am!

I don't recall if I posted my photos from last year, but they are here

https://picasaweb.google.com/kiwifann/Mistura2012

Thanks for all the help. I have been emailing many companies with only a handful of responses....but I think I have found someone who can help us. It will be more expensive but I think we will enjoy the one on one!

Again thanks!

Pepnjak
P.S. I think we'll pay the extra cost to have it all rearranged and not worry about the hastle. We just went into retirement and ready to kick back a bit :-)

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