Peru Travel – Explore by Yourself or take a Guided Tour?

Peru stands out on the list of countries in Latin America to explore while on vacation. The country predates the Inca, has an amazing amount of archeological sites to visit, and is brimming with attractions that hold both young and old at rapt attention. Discovering the sites and culture of the country is an adventure-done independently or on a guided tour.

Keep reading for a rundown of the advantages of taking a guided tour vs. setting out on your own to explore.

One of the first questions to ask yourself when trying to decide whether a guided tour or independent travel is best for you when traveling in Peru is if your travel experience lends itself to the country.

For first time visitors, Peru tours offer discoveries and sights that stimulate the imagination and invigorates the senses. If you are comfortable taking on another culture and language on your own, and enjoy being immersed in a completely different environment, Peru is an adventure with new experiences around every corner.

If you enjoy exploring but feel that you need the comfort and expertise of a guide to lead you through the complexities of the culture and the nuances of traveling well in Peru, consider adding a guided trip to the list to make the most out of your time abroad.

There are pros and cons to each style of travel. Guided tours tend to be more structured, but often have free time budgeted into the itinerary. Independent travel lets you set the pace and decide what to do, giving you the freedom to change plans, take the day off, and explore according to new information found on the road. The disadvantage of independent travel is that there is a lot to learn about Peru, and subtleties are often missed when hitting the streets on your own.

Peru is a large country with a vast history, thriving culture, with an incredible amount of sights to see. Because of its size and the many historical, cultural, and scenic highlights of the country, it can be difficult to navigate the landscape independently. Long bus rides, hundreds of agencies vying for your business, a confusing variety of hotels and lodging to choose from, and a wide range of guides and tours make traveling in the country on your own for the first time a puzzle.

Guided tours alleviate much of the confusion. Transportation is taken care of, accommodation is provided in vetted hotels, and guides offer in-depth glimpses into the culture. The language barrier is also less formidable; bi-lingual guides translate and take you into the Spanish world to places not often found on your own.

Machu Picchu, the coast, historic Cusco, and the thriving metropolis of Lima are worth the time and energy to discover. Museums, the plazas, and churches of the Spanish, and the natural attractions of the country are the tip of the iceberg-leading to new revelations about the origins of the present day people and culture of Peru.

Each destination reveals a new piece in the puzzle of the culture, history, and customs of the country. The Inca and the Spanish influences on the country are mixed with the customs of different nationalities that have found a home along the coast.  The mountains that tower over one of the outdoor adventure centers, Huaraz, lead to pristine glaciers and peaceful, high mountain lakes where ancient cultures once lived and thrived.

Traveling in Peru is an immersion into a land that has been at the forefront of conflict, ancient commerce, art, and architecture for centuries. Discovering the country`s charms is an adventure worth doing well-whether using a guided tour or by diving in with expert advice and tackling the landscape independently.

Happy Gringo Peru tours give you the benefit of our expertise that takes the worry out of finding the right places to visit, stay, and explore. We have five tours that include Cusco, the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu, Lake Titicaca, La Paz, Lima, and the Paracas & Ballestas Islands collectively. Other trips combine seeing the sites of Peru & the Galapagos Islands, and Peru & Bolivia.

For both options, the first step is to contact us through this site, Skype, or by using our toll-free numbers. We can be reached during business hours, and also have emergency and operations numbers for support while you are traveling.