Every year someone asks me about renting a car during their trip to Machu Picchu in Peru. When it comes to traveling independently, we Americans first think of self-driven vehicles. We think renting a car will give us freedom, flexibility & independence on our trips. Like it does at home. Although I'm an avid proponent of independent travel, there are places where you should hang up the keys.  Peru is be one of them. But without an organized public transport system what can travelers do?

Here's why you should not rent a car in Cusco:

• traffic - unimaginably snarled & complicated one way routes in and out of the Cusco city center.
• narrow single lane roads with 2-way traffic and unwritten etiquette for who has right-of-way
• city parking - good luck with that
• roads not clearly marked and road conditions are state secrets (bridge? what bridge?) GPS? I wouldn't count on it.
• gas stations may be few & far between and could be closed. Fuel may be sold in someone's front yard marked by a handwritten sign on a stick
• driving customs - vehicles drive as close to each other on the roads as the hand chiseled stones are placed to each other in the ancient ruins. (A driver once instructed me to pull in the rear view mirror. Quickly. I've been in a van so close to another vehicle that I could open the window and lick the other car. With my tongue.)
• Rental car maintenance - different rules apply
• Roadside assistance - you have to be prepared to be your own mechanic & solve our own roadside problems
• vandalism - renting a car may increase your chances of becoming a target for theft. We've had travelers arrive in Cusco by car but the first thing they do is try to find a safe place to park it. Vidal has a secure gated yard about 30 minutes by bus outside the city. It's a solution for people who need to stash a car while they're in Cusco. It doesn't work at all for daily use. 
• you can't drive to Machu Picchu - no one can. You can hike on the Inca Trail or take the train to Aguas Calientes. The closest you can get by car is the village of Ollantaytambo where you board the train to continue to the Inca Trail to hike. (I'm not including the access through what is known as the Machu Picchu backdoor jungle route. That's another story for another day)

Most local people in the Cusco region don't own vehicles and may rely on taxis and other informal resources for transportation. It doesn't mean you can't travel on your own. By shifting your mindset to think like a local, you can still explore all the nooks and crannies you desire without the added expense & responsibility of managing a vehicle in a foreign land. 

Alternatives to renting a car for your trip to Machu Picchu:

• walk like the locals & be prepared for local weather with appropriate outerwear & footwear
• book your accommodations within walking distance to activities. There are hotels for all budgets in the Cusco historical district. 
• if you need vehicular transportation, it's pretty cheap to grab a taxi in the city center to save time or for transporting you and your shopping back to your hotel. For tours and trips outside the city, ask your hotel or just walk to the main plaza. You will see lots of shops advertising group tours.in shared mini-vans for a fraction of the cost for private tour. (or ask me. My business parnter Vidal, in Cusco, has access to any resource for reliable private transportation and knowledgeable tour guides. (757-714-6649 Jacquie. Also on What'sApp and Signal)
• arrange multiple activities in the same geographical location to coordinate with the transportation options. (when we set up itineraries we arrange tours and activities to minimize the amount of time people spend in vans.)
• reach out to travelers in your hotel to share expenses for transportation to popular activities

It's quite a challenge for some of us to think outside the automobile. Learning to travel without a car is a good lesson for all.

Click here to check out our comprehensive packing guide for Machu Picchu.