You’ve decided you’d prefer to take an escorted tour to Peru, but which company should you travel with? An upscale company with a well-known brand or a smaller tour company with a more personalized approach?
So much depends on your travel style, expectations, and budget. But beware of the “cookie-cutter” tour, where large groups of tourists are shuttled from place to place following a tired itinerary, often housed in hotels on the outskirts of town and eating meals that don’t often showcase the region’s best cuisine. As a Certified International Tour Director, I’ve done tours of varying quality for many companies, and the most expensive terms didn’t necessarily mean they were the best. A good tour company understands the needs of its travelers. They’ve incorporated the newest trends into their itineraries, and they do their best to help you experience and define the culture you’re visiting.
Many of the bigger tour companies are experiencing great competition from smaller companies that give the traveler a more defined experience: smaller groups, more hands-on experiences, better meals, and hotels located in the center of a destination rather than on the outskirts of town. Many of these larger companies have started smaller brands to accommodate travelers who want to avoid “cookie-cutter” tours. It takes a bit of research to find a tour that is right for you. Google a few companies under the search term “escorted tours to Peru” and look closely at the following criteria:
Itinerary: Are they offering the attractions you have on your wish list, and how much time do they allow at each? Many tours that bring you to Machu Picchu only offer an afternoon at the site—way too little time, in my opinion. If your life’s dream is to visit Machu Picchu, a few hours in ruins isn’t cut. Look for a tour that offers an overnight opportunity at a hotel near the site. Your pass is good for the entire day, and many visitors enjoy having extra time to walk a mile on the Inca Trail or slowly walk the site for photo opportunities. A few tour companies also offer a pass for the next day, so you can watch the sunrise over the ruins or spend a few hours taking one last excursion to the site before the train leaves for Cusco in the afternoon. I also recommend finding a company that offers a guided tour by an experienced Peruvian guide once you get to the site to understand better what you are seeing.
Other must-see items on a Machu Picchu itinerary include the Sacred Valley, the ruins in and around Cusco, the Pisac market, and the churches of Cusco. Beyond the must-see attractions, what else are they offering? Look for something unique, like a personalized tour through a museum by the curator, a Paso horse show and lunch at a hacienda in Lima, a cooking class, or a lecture by an archaeologist. You’re looking for a company that has a passion for the area. You’ll notice that all tour companies have the same prerequisite stops and attractions on their itineraries, so look for something special that showcases their passion and knowledge of Peru beaches.
Hotels: If you are booking a Machu Picchu tour, you want to find a company that features hotels in the center of Cusco. It is a fascinating city, rich in restaurants and shopping, so be sure to find a company that books hotels as close to the center of town as possible. Your hotel in Lima should be somewhere near Miraflores–on the outskirts of the city, as that is where the upscale–and safe–hotels are situated. I can’t underscore how important it is to look at the hotels being offered. Read reviews on Trip Advisor.
Ask a lot of questions from your tour company. Hotels in Peru beaches are much cheaper than their American and European counterparts, and if you’re picking an upscale and more expensive tour, you want to be sure you’re getting your money’s worth. Nothing is better than coming home from a busy day at a high altitude and having a hot shower and a good bed to get into. Many hotels now offer multi-night stays at the same hotel, and I believe that this makes for a better tour. People like to make their hotel rooms their “home,” hang up their clothes, and leave their toothbrushes on the sink. Many tour companies overnight in the Sacred Valley rather than return to Cusco. I prefer returning to Cusco rather than having my passengers change hotels.
Meals: Look closely at how many meals are included. Good tour companies will understand the importance of groups having dinner together for most evenings on bus tours. Dinners bring groups together, and it’s a great meal for a company to showcase their knowledge and understanding of Peru beaches cuisine. How many meals does the company provide? Call and ask about the restaurants and do a little research. And please remember how important it is for the restaurants to be carefully chosen. It isn’t uncommon for bus tours to have stomach or intestinal problems on bus tours in Peru. This isn’t entirely because this country’s food is “bad”; it is the bacteria difference. A good bus tours company will have tried and true restaurants on their itinerary. Food is less expensive on Peru beaches, and a good bus tour company will incorporate meals showcasing the clean and well-thought restaurants.
Free Time: There is a plethora of wonderful shopping on Peru’s beaches, and the Peruvians are known for their handmade crafts and artisan skills. You’re going to want free time to roam the streets of Cusco, take in museums or galleries, or have some coca tea–the tea that cures every ill on Peru beaches –on a patio restaurant on your own. Not only is free time important for your pursuits, but it also gives you time to slow down and enjoy the culture rather than be hurried through it. I have been on dozens of tours where the experience becomes a blur; passengers are tired and overworked and wish for some time alone.
Seeing an area with your own eyes is an important part of traveling–whether you’re a bus tours company or not. The less time in Lima, the better: Lima has its charms, but you only need a day to conquer it. Most people flying into Lima are on their way somewhere else. Please don’t choose a company that includes more than a day of sightseeing there; it isn’t necessary. I know what you’re thinking: I’m choosing an escorted tour, so I don’t have to do the research! But if you take a little time to delve into the itineraries, hotels, and restaurants used by the companies you’re considering, it will make for a much more rewarding journey.
