Dec 2, 2024
Not only a great tour, but a day trip that enriched the rest of our time in Peru - I highly recommend Cusco Local Friend! I am not normally the type to go on a tour and am a bit more of a DIY traveler-- the tour was my partner's idea. But I am SO glad we booked a day with Cusco Local Friend and I can 100% say it was worth the price. We took this tour on our second day in Peru and it not only was an excellent day, but I also felt that the knowledge we gained helped enrich the rest of our two-week trip.
We were picked up right on time by our guide (Juan Pablo) and our driver (Raphael? I wish I remembered his name for certain because he was great!) for a private tour of Moray, Maras, and Pisac. The van was large, comfortable, and clean with nice big windows for looking out at the views. There was even bottles of water available for us. Juan Pablo is incredibly knowledgeable, personable, and passionate. At each stop he gave us an overview of the history of the site and the way it was used by the Inca. He guided us through the site, stopping to point out things I never would have noticed or understood without such a great guide. The information was always very thorough without feeling canned.
In addition to learning a lot about the sites we visited, I learned a lot about Peru as a whole while chatting with Juan Pablo on the drives between sites. He was able to answer literally every question we had ("What kind of bird is that?" "What is the purpose of that hole in the rock of this archaeological site?" "What are those red bags on sticks hanging out of some houses?"), and I especially enjoyed learning about his experience of growing up in the sacred valley. He was even kind enough to teach me a few Quechua words (he is a native Quechua speaker).
This was such a great start to our trip and I can't recommend this company highly enough!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Nov 19, 2024
Great Sacred Valley tour! - Abe was an amazing guide. He was fun, informative, and knowledgeable about everything from the climate to the geography to history. He knew everything and our driver Edgar were a great team and they got us to all of the spots quickly and safely. Definitely recommend this private tour - worth the $!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Nov 6, 2024
Must do request Juan Carlos - We did the Sacred valley tour. Our tour guide Juan Carlos and driver Willey were incredible. They made us feel at home and were very enjoyable to be around. Juan Carlos was very knowledgeable and showed us the beauty of the sites and the beauty of the local people.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Nov 4, 2024
Fantastic, comprehensive tour with an exceptional guide! - This was a fantastic tour. We had just arrived in Peru and it was wonderful to put ourselves into the hands of Sam, his driver, Edgar, and the aptly named "Cusco Local Friend" travel company for a tour of the highlights of Sacred Valley: the perfect way to begin our Peru adventure. Not only was Sam deeply knowledgeable about every aspect of the sites we visited, and about Incan history, but his passion for the subject infused the tour, as well as his own personal history and anecdotes. From climbing up to the Sun Temple in Ollantaytambo, to the Maras Incan Salt Pools, and mysterious rings of Moray - to the charming textile factory and restaurant complete with photogenic llama and delicious food, we really felt we had seen and experienced just what makes the Sacred Valley such an incredible place. The tour advertises a 'professional driver' and once you take the tour you will realize how important that is as you scale vertiginous heights and hair pin bends and bumpy roads - being in the hands of a driving expert is key, and Edgar was certainly that. Perhaps most to Sam and Edgar's credit, their patience while we agonized for over an hour about which gorgeous hand-crafted, naturally-dyed Alpaca sweater, scarf, and hat to buy among the many stunning wares at the textile factory! Thanks, guys - we loved it! All three of us highly recommend this tour. - Maggie, Melanie & Nan
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Oct 26, 2024
Great One Day Sacred Valley tour starting from Rio Sagrado - Great experience on a Sacred Valley Day Tour. Our tour Guide Ferdinand was very knowledgeable, personal, professional and experienced. He had great insight into all the archeological sites we visited. He was able to modify the order of itinerary to minimize the crowds and provide an initimate experience. The transportation was modern, comfortable and the driver Willy provided smoth and safe ride. One of the few companies that provides tours starting from the sacred valley and not Cusco.
Review provided by Viator
Oct 23, 2024
Great tour of the sacred valley - My wife and I booked the tour directly on the Cusco Local Friend website. The tour we booked was titled "Best of Sacred Valley".
It included:
- Chinchero
- Ollantaytambo
- circular Inca Terraces of MORAY
- SALT MINES of MARAS
Our guide Abraham was extremely knowledgable and we learned a lot about the sites we visited during the tour through him. It was obvious that he was really passionate about the inca culture and history and he really cared about sharing this with us. His history lessons were well thought out and always very interesting and he answered about 100 questions from us!
Our driver Edgar was very professional and kept us safe and on time throughout the tour.
Both Abraham and Edgar were very friendly and easy to talk to.
We were picked up in a very comfortable modern van with great air conditioning.
Abraham and Edgar were very tactful about the order in which we visited the sites. They ordered the site visits to avoid the peak times which we believe really added to our experience.
The lunch place we stopped at was good but nothing to rave about and I would say it was on the expensive side and a bit of a tourist spot. I think since it's a private tour you can choose were to go for lunch so I would not be concerned about this, we just went with the flow.
Overall we would highly recommend this tour. We were very happy that we went with a private tour in this instance and we believe it's the right way to do the sacred valley vs the large bus tours of you have the extra money to spend.
Lastly I would just add to definitely do a scared valley tour. Even just for the stunning views/landscapes along the journey alone.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Oct 16, 2024
Excellent private tour - Pablo was great, informative, knowledgeable and local. We had a brand new black van to ourselves, and our driver was funny and courteous. Privacy and quietness are the ultimate luxury
Review provided by Viator
Sep 1, 2024
Full and private experience - Cusco Local Friend was communicative and super friendly! From the associates who communicated via WhatsApp to our guide Ferd, everyone was wonderful and accommodating for our first time in South America!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Aug 17, 2024
So happy I booked this tour! - I am so glad I booked this "Ultimate Sacred Valley" tour. It allowed us to visit the highlights of the Sacred Valley in an efficient and comfortable manner. Pablo, our guide, and the driver (forgot his name!) couldn't have been more professional, flexible, or accommodating. The driver cleaned the van while we were at each stop and they both made the experience seamless and so rewarding. Ollantaytambo and the salt mines are not to be missed. In Chinchero, if they ask you if you want to see how they weave the fabric, do it! The experience is amazing. If Pablo suggests to stop and eat, it's a good idea. The restaurant was great, with good food at affordable prices. Overall, I would give this tour higher than 5 stars if I could. You can customize it to suit your needs, so don't be afraid to ask.
Review provided by Viator
Aug 16, 2024
Highly recommend this tour of the Sacred Valley - My mom and I had an amazing private tour with Sam (tour guide) and Willy (driver). Sam allowed us to move at our own pace, and offered detailed explanations for each place we stopped. Sam was also great at taking photos of my mom and I, he got all the angles!
I really enjoyed this day in the Sacred Valley. It's hard to get to but so worth seeing. The salt mines were a standout, as were the Incan ruins in Ollantaytambo. We also stopped for lunch at a restaurant with an incredible view of the valley, and delicious food too.
My mom and I both felt very safe with Willy driving, and thought Sam was passionate and helpful in explaining the significance of all the sites we visited. He answered all of our questions and tailored the experience to what we wanted to know and see. I'd highly recommend this trip for people staying in Ollantaytambo or Urubamba who want to see the Sacred Valley. A lot of tours leave from Cusco, but this one doesn't, which I loved! Overall, it was an amazing day and a wonderful tour. Thanks Sam and Willy!!
Review provided by Viator