Experience the wonders of Cusco with a local private guide
Cusco
Overview
Cusco Private Tours with Local Guides
Cusco is a fascinating destination located in the highlands of Peru that offers a unique mix of ancient history, current vibrant culture, and stunning natural beauty. Known as the “Historical Capital of Peru,” Cusco was once the capital of the Inca Empire and it was denominated as the “navel of the world” by the Incan civilization, and today it’s a UNESCO World Heritage Site that attracts.
One of the highlights of Cusco is the incredible architecture in the historic center, which reflects its rich history and cultural heritage. The city has countless beautiful churches (from the Spanish times), squares, and colonial-era buildings that date back to the Spaniard conquest. A perfect city to spend hours wandering the streets of the historic center, marveling at the intricate stonework, ancient alleyways, and ornate facades.
Cusco characterizes by having a very vibrant culture, which is celebrated through colorful festivals (especially in June), lively markets, and traditional music and dance performances. Get immersed yourself in the local culture by trying traditional Peruvian dishes like ceviche, lomo saltado, and rocoto relleno; mingling with the locals in the local festivals, or shopping local handicrafts at the bustling San Pedro market, it’s a lovely destination that will allure you with all of its enchanting.
As well, any visit to Cusco would be incomplete without a trip to the iconic Machu Picchu, one of the new Seven Wonders of the World. This ancient Inca city is perched high atop a mountain, surrounded by breathtaking Andes mountains and the Urubamba River (Sacred River). A journey to Machu Picchu is truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience that shouldn’t be missed.
Highlights
- The Plaza de Armas: This beautiful main square is the heart of Cusco, which is surrounded by beautiful colonial buildings and filled with lively markets, street performers, and local vendors.
- Sacsayhuaman: This impressive Inca religious site overlooking the city is a must-see for its massive stone walls, impressive masonry, and breathtaking views of the surrounding mountains.
- Qorikancha: This former main Inca temple, which was taken over by Santo Domingo church, is a fascinating example of the blending of Inca and Spanish colonial architecture and culture.
- San Blas Neighborhood: This bohemian neighborhood is full of charming art galleries and shops, it is a great place to wander while exploring its typical alleys.
- Museums: Cusco has a variety of museums showcasing the region’s rich history and culture, including the Machu Picchu Museum, Museum of Pre-Columbian Art, the Inca Museum, and the Museum of Religious Art.
- Cusco is a city that will capture your heart with its vibrant energy, stunning architecture, and fascinating history.
Tours
Why travel with us
THE BEST TEAM
When you venture into the uncrowded spots of Cusco, Sacred Valley, and Machu Picchu, you need a great team around you. And we have the greatest. You’ll join professional licensed guides who surpass every standard imaginable for safety and preparedness in the Cusco and other regions of Peru...
WE ARE FLEXIBLE
At our company, we understand that plans can be subject to change. Whether you need to add more travelers to your party or wish to extend your trip during your stay, we are well-equipped to accommodate a wide range of requests, from the expected to the unexpected. Our experienced team has...
TAILOR-MADE EXPERIENCES
Unlike many travel companies that offer standardized packages and experiences, we pride ourselves on providing a unique, customized travel experience for each and every one of our clients. Our website serves as a starting point, offering inspiration and ideas, but we believe that each trip should...
BEST VALUE FOR YOUR MONEY
We acknowledge that your leisure time is valuable and must be utilized to its fullest potential. Entrusting us with the responsibility of planning your trip to Machu Picchu Peru is a significant display of confidence in our services. Therefore, we assure you that we will provide personalized...
Reviews
Raph2022-12-085 days trek in Ausangate - lifetime experience We (a group of 4 friends) had an amazing experience with Peru Summit Adventures in doing the Ausangate trek early October. It all started few months ago with a very friendly phone call with the owner Carlos, who immediately made us confortable and answered all our questions. Carlos was always very responsive and helpful when we were preparing our trip. Once in Cuzco, the day before the trek, we met in person with Carlos and our guide, the incomparable Noé! Off we go in bus to the start of the trek where we meet our 2 muleteers and our 2 cooks (Evanlegico and German). This trek is definitely the best I’ve ever did in my life. The scenery was just mind blowing. The crew helped us in so many ways in setting the camp site (great gear by the way), cooking incredible 3-course meals at lunch and dinner, encouraging us in the difficult moments. Then special mention to our guide Noé who made this trek special! We had a lot of fun and he was really knowledgeable about all aspects of the Ausangate + Inca and Peruvian culture.I can only advise this agency and the crew for your treks around Cuzco.Becky2022-11-11An incredible 5 days on the Ausangate Trek My friend and I had an amazing experience with Peru Summit Adventures on the Ausangate Trek. From the beginning, the communication with Carlos was very efficient and he answered all of our questions quickly and attentively. We were met the night before by Carlos and our guide, Juan Carlos (JC), to go through the itinerary which helped us have a clearer understanding of what we were about to undertake. Carlos also checked in with us when we had returned to Cusco to make sure everything had gone smoothly. The trek itself was absolutely incredible, the views were constantly breathtaking. It is definitely one of the less touristic treks and we barely saw any other people whilst we were there. JC was an excellent guide. He is personable, knowledgeable and when someone wasn't feeling right due to either altitude or other sickness, he made sure to check they were okay to carry on, was motivational, reassuring and gave oxygen as and when needed. The food was in abundance and delicious! Definitely what we needed to have the strength to complete the trek. On the last evening there was even a cake that had been freshly made, we are still wondering how he did it!We would definitely recommend Peru Summit Adventures from the experience we had- thank you for everything!Selina2022-11-06Amazing and attentive We had three days with Edwin (two days) and Juan Carlos (one day), and the experiences ranged from climbing Huayna Picchu to doing a Cusco City tour. They were both very attentive tour guides, especially Edwin who took such good care of my mom while we were hiking Huayna Picchu. They also always try to go above and beyond, including asking us if we had another day in Machu Picchu to make sure that we're able to see everything. If not, they volunteered to meet us as early as 6am (given ticket restrictions) to give us a more elaborate tour. My parents' english levels are not the best, but they could understand Edwin and Juan Carlos really well, as they talked with great English and at a slower pace adjusting to my parents' ability to understand them. They were more than happy to be pestered with questions that my dad had haha. All in all, we didn't have to worry about anything from picking up to food options to questions and tickets. Everything was taken care of at the private tour and we felt very safe all throughout our trip.Thank you so much for a great time!!Lmdphd2022-11-03Wonderful Experience with Peru Summit Adventures!! I had been wanting to travel to Peru to hike the Inca Trail and visit the Amazon for some time. A google search lead me to Peru Summit Adventures which I selected for my trip due to their ethos, ethics and approach to the tour. I had am amazing experience over 9 days. The 5 day Inca hike was grueling at times, but Ruben, my guide, was patient, supportive and encouraging. He is has a wealth of knowledge and passion about Incan history and shared that throughout the hike. He also gave me several 'small breaks' which helped to build my confidence in completing the hike. I highly recommend the 5 day vs 4 day Inca Hike as you get more time along the hike to complete it and you see all of the the Inca sites along the way. You also have time to enjoy the scenery and a day in Aguas Calientes which is not to be missed! I noticed the other tour companies rushed through the hike and the individual Incan sites, including the tour of Machu Picchu. But Ruben spent much time explaining the history of the entire region along the hike so that by the time I reached Machu Picchu I had a better understanding of its significance. The porters and chef were phenomenal as well! I arrived to a large tent ready for me, delicious regional foods and daily snacks to keep me going. I was amazed at what the chef prepared each day. And there was plenty of food to keep you energized!The four days in the Amazon at Refugios Amazonas was spectacular. I highly recommend at least four days to see this amazing part of the world. Our guide, Lucia, was fantastic, demonstrating so much knowledge and passion for the region. She takes many pictures and videos for you using her high powered binocular so no need to bring extra lenses if you don't want to the weight. In all, I HIGHLY recommend Peru Summit Adventures for your trip to Peru. It is worth every penny.Sarah H2022-10-11Excellent time in the Sacred Valley! We had an excellent three days under the care of Carlos’s team, including our fantastic guide Edwin! Carlos was incredibly helpful and responsive in coordinating the details of the trip, and Edwin could not have done a better job showing us the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu! His fun personality added to our experience. I cannot emphasize enough how nice it was not to have to worry about logistics, as Carlos and Edwin made sure that everything - from car transports to train tickets to entry passes - was taken care of. Highly recommend!Debora A2022-09-14incredible experience! Incredible private tour with Tomas! Truly worth every penny to be able to be on our own time and enjoy each stop. Tomas gave us incredible insights into history and culture. We even referenced his teachings the next day at Machu Picchu when our other guide was lacking. I cannot recommended this enough we only wish we would have known in advance to book all of our tours through Peru Summit.TTTraveller762022-09-13Fantastic Small Tour Company We utilised Peru Summit for a private tour of the Sacred Valley as well as another private tour of Pisac. They arranged for the transportation and the guides and we had a fantastic time with them. Highly recommended and would love to use them again when we return to Peru. I believe they also handle much more complex multi day treks as well.ChicoChaps❤️2022-08-30Peru Summit Adventures is the best! Our family (6 adults) just returned from a 10 day lodge to lodge hiking adventure through the Sacred Valley and to Rainbow Mountain. The entire experience was completely outstanding. From the very beginning of formulating our plan, Peru Summit Adventures was obviously the right choice. They made sure everything went exactly as we wanted, with every arrangement and experience and more. I can't say enough about our guide Abraham who was excellent, like a history professor with his level of knowledge, great sense of humor and also a huge amount of pride and passion for his work and his heritage. Our driver was terrific, SO safe. Our hotels were outstanding. Each day held new views, surprises, learning and FUN. It was also great to support a local Peruvian company with our business. If you are reading this review (as I did those before mine), don't hesitate to book your trip of a lifetime with Peru Summit Adventures. We are so grateful that we did.E K2022-08-29Unsurpassed Choquequirao Trek The ultimate trek from Choquequirao to Machu Picchu. Very impressed with Peru Summit Adventures - from the start of our adventure to the very end! Juan Carlos was an exceptional guide who shared wonderful information on the history, the mountain top environments, the Quecha culture, botanical wonders & more. Our route took us through steep canyons and plunging valleys. We rarely encountered other travelers until we merged with the Salkantey route. It was a serious trek and we trusted Juan Carlos and our amazing team including chef & two accompanying Peru Summit team members to see us through this trek. Carlos was our primary contact prior to arriving in Peru and his info session before our trek was wonderful to prepare mentally. Highly recommend Carlos and Peru Summit for this once in a lifetime experience. They went above and beyond our expectations! Unsurpassed!mark p2022-08-22Best company in Peru! Words cannot even begin to tell you how amazing this company is. If I could give them seven stars I would! I did the six day trek on the Ausangate trail, and it was incredible. It started by having the owner of the company come see me a couple days before the trip and fill me in on what I could expect. That in of itself was amazing. However, the trip itself far exceeded my expectations, and was undersold by the owner. My guide Ruben was amazing. He allowed me to go at my pace, and he also made it so easy to do more difficult trails. The trip was really tailored to me. Every single day he allowed us to go further off the itinerary to cover more mileage. If I wanted to point at a different trail and go off course to do some thing else, he was all in. Those two things in themselves would’ve been more than enough for me. Yet, the two Horseman and cook were 7 stars all the way! Their positive attitude and energy made for such an enjoyable trip. I really wasn’t expecting anything from the food, and it was far better than anything I had on that whole I was in Peru. They had so little to work with, and yet all three meals each day were amazing. I read reviews all the time, and the reviews for this company were spot on. I can honestly say this is the first time I’ve ever written anything, and I’m telling you, if you come to the area you must use this Peru Summit Adventures.
Faqs about Cusco
The best time to visit Cusco is during the dry season from May to September when there is less rain and the weather is generally mild and sunny (although nights could be very cold). However, this is also the busiest time for tourism, so expect larger crowds and higher prices.
Most visitors to Peru, including those traveling to Cusco to other regions of Peru, do not need a visa for stays of up to 183 days. However, you will need a valid passport and may need to show proof of onward travel.
Cusco is located at an altitude of over 11,000 feet above sea level (3,400 meters), so altitude sickness can be a concern for some travelers. It’s a good idea to acclimate for a few days before undertaking any strenuous activities and to drink plenty of water to stay hydrated.
The must-visit attractions in Cusco include the Plaza de Armas (main square), Sacsayhuaman, Coricancha (temple of the sun), San Blas neighborhood, Tamboamachay, Pukapukara, and various museums. The nearby Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu are also popular destinations.
Pack comfortable, lightweight clothing for warmer days and layers for cold nights. Don’t forget to bring sunscreen, a hat, and a reusable water bottle. If you plan to trek, make sure to bring appropriate gear (footwear and clothing).
Cusco is a relatively safe destination in Peru for travelers but it’s always a good idea to take caution and be aware of your surroundings, especially in crowded areas. Don’t carry large amounts of cash or valuables with you and use reputable taxis or transportation services.