Peru - Lonely Planet Publications [190]
Agents also offer expensive Machu Picchu tours that include transport, admission tickets to the archaeological site, an English-speaking guide and lunch. Since you only get to spend a few hours at the ruins before it’s time to return to the train station, it’s more enjoyable (not to mention much cheaper) to DIY. You can hire a guide at Machu Picchu (some are great; most are not) or in advance, from Cuzco.
TOUR AGENCIES
These tour agencies are recommended:
Andean Xtreme Adventure (23-4599/974-79-0386; www.axaperu.com) Knowledgeable, professional tour operator who can make anything happen.
Chaski Ventura (23-3952; www.chaskiventura.com; Manco Cápac 517) Pioneer of alternative and community tourism, distinguished by the quality of its itineraries and guides, and its thoughtful involvement in community development.
Fertur (22-1304; www.fertur-travel.com; Procuradores 341) Local office of long-established, very reliable agency for flights and all conventional tours.
Turismo Caith (23-3595; www.caith.org; Centro Yanapanakusun, Urb Ucchullo Alto, N4, Pasaje Santo Toribio) Offers community visits and the opportunity to participate in educational projects, as well as standard single and multiday trips.
GUIDES
The following guides for Machu Picchu and around Cuzco are recommended:
Leo Garcia (984-70-2933, 984-75-4022; leogacia@hotmail.com) Personable, passionate and supremely knowledgeable about all things Inca.
Miguel Jove (984-79-2227; miguelj24@hotmail.com) A highly recommended climbing and alternative-trekking specialist. Can be contacted through South American Explorers Club.
Raul Castelo (24-3234, 984-31-6345; raulcastelo10@hotmail.com) Has his own transport and equipment for rafting, trekking and mountain biking; specializes in community tourism.
You can also contact guides via the Asociación de Guías Oficiales de Turismo (Agotur; 24-9758; www.agoturcusco.org.pe; Heladeros 157).
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FESTIVALS & EVENTS
Cuzco and the surrounding highlands celebrate many lively fiestas and holidays. In addition to national holidays (Click here), the following are the most crowded times, when you should book all accommodations well in advance:
El Señor de los Temblores (the Lord of the Earthquakes) This procession on the Monday before Easter dates to the earthquake of 1650 (Click here).
Crucifix Vigil On May 2 to 3, a Crucifix Vigil is held on all hillsides with crosses atop them.
Q’oyoriti Less well-known than the spectacular Inti Raymi are the more traditional Andean rites of this festival (see the boxed text, Click here), which is held at the foot of Ausangate the Tuesday before Corpus Christi, in late May or early June.
Corpus Christi Held on the nineth Thursday after Easter, Corpus Christi usually occurs in early June and features fantastic religious processions and celebrations in the cathedral.
Inti Raymi Cuzco’s most important festival, the ‘Festival of the Sun’ is held on June 24. It attracts tourists from all over Peru and the world, and the whole city celebrates in the streets. The festival culminates in a re-enactment of the Inca winter-solstice festival at Sacsaywamán. Despite its commercialization, it’s still worth seeing the street dances and parades, as well as the pageantry at Sacsaywamán.
Santuranticuy artisan crafts fair A crafts fair held in the Plaza de Armas on December 24 (Christmas Eve).
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SLEEPING
Cuzco has hundreds of hotels of all types, and just about the only thing they have in common is that they charge some of the highest room rates in Peru. Cuzco fills to bursting between June and August, especially during the 10 days before Inti Raymi on June 24 and during Fiestas Patrias (Independence Days) on July 28 and 29. You should book in advance for these dates.
Prices are market driven and vary dramatically according to the season and demand. Rates quoted here are for high season and may well be negotiated down in quiet times, particularly