Cusco Photo Tour: Capture the Essence of the Incan Capital

My husband and I are taking a 6 months road trip from Boston to Argentina, and I have been trying to take photo tours in all kinds of different places on the road to improve my photography skills. I found Andean Expeditions when we entered Peru and ended up signing up for both Lima Day Tours with Dan and Portrait and Landscape Expedition in Cusco with Pedro. I have to say both tours really exceeded my expectation, and Dan and Pedro are great photographers and both fo them are really passionate about photography.

The Lima Day Tour we went to the old town, local market, Miraflores, and cool Barranco district. We were not only sightseeing, but I also learned many tips for photography from Dan. Thanks!

Beautiful shots, unique experience, and good company
I signed up for a private Cusco Photography Tour after having done the Lima tour with Dan. And many thanks to Alex for making it another amazing day in Peru!

This tour is well thought out, with an excellent coverage of the historic must-sees, magnificent city views from different angles, colorful and vibrant local markets, and those beautiful pebble-stoned Incan streets. With Alex’s intimate knowledge of the city and assimilation into the local community, we visited and photographed at many hidden spots that were full of surprises! The highlight of the tour, for me, was watching the locals hanging out at the chicheria and waiting for the clouds to clear up for a highly anticipated sunset, while picking our favorite photos of the day over a huge glass of chica. After a day of walking and shooting, that sense of gratification and feeling of relaxation were beyond expression!

Easily one of the top highlights of our stay in Cusco. Good for photographers of all skill levels, or simply iphone enthusiasts. Alex (a British ex-pat living in Cusco) showed us views and scenes that we never would’ve found – or knew existed – otherwise (we stood on the roof of a cathedral!). He offered great tips on shooting, was sensitive to our pace, was knowledgable about local traditions, customs, and history, and gave us some great photos of ourselves. Be ready to cover some ground (hills, cobblestones) – best to do this tour a few days after arriving in Cusco to give yourself a chance to acclimatize. Additionally, the customer service from Andean Photo Expeditions was excellent. Absolutely recommended.

Alex was our guide, and he did a great job. He gave us a lot of insight that one might not get on other tours of Cusco. Information on how to take better photos in street and landscape format, and places that lend themselves to photography. It was an enjoyable day that really helped us to have an insider’s perspective on the city and all it has to offer.

As it turned out we were the only ones on the tour. Alex was engaging and had many helpful tips. We had a relaxed walk around the city and to a few special photo points. It was a thoroughly enjoyable introduction to Cusco and we came away with photos we would never have got otherwise.

The tour was great. Alex our guide knew the area well enough to get us into areas not open to other tourists (a locked tower and walkway over one of the streets and the bell tower and roof of San Franciscan cathedral). In addition to the large and colorful San Padro market we also got to go to the smaller, almost hidden San Blas market that was not as colorful, but way safer to eat at.

Something Different in Cusco. I spent an enjoyable day with Alex having a look at Cusco from a photographer’s perspective. I picked up some good photo tips during the day. We visited places which were not on the usual tourist route, and which provided excellent vantage points and photo opportunities. Alex provided background and some history at the different areas of central Cusco we visited. The Iglesia San Fransisco was one of the highlights for me, along with the San Pedro market. I can recommend this tour to anyone with an interest in photography.

We had an amazing day with Alex. He gave us a lot of valuable information about photography that suited our needs, skills and equipment. He showed us a lot of special non touristic places in Cusco with good photograpgy oppurtunities.

Great introduction to Cusco with nice local touches. I did this tour with Pedro on my first full-day in Cusco. It helped me understand the city layout, culture and history of the place. Pedro was very knowledgable and fielded all my questions about Cusco, whether photo-related or not. I came away with some great photographs and really enjoyed the itinerary Andean Photo Expeditions put together!

Super visit. Very interesting city visit of Cuzco. Pedro is very knowledgeable and brought me to very nice places around the city for great pictures and tailored the visit according to my interests. He also gave me many great suggestions about restaurants, tour and shopping in Cuzco. I highly recommend the tour.

This Cusco Photo Tour is amazing. Early in the morning you will have a complete view of the city from a special very high point. You have great opportunities to do street photography, mainly in the market. Alex is a great person and he gives orientation about best angles and ways to take a photo. I strongly recommend for everybody who likes photography. That is an amazing tour.

Off the beaten path. I enjoyed the photo tour with Pedro. We saw the major attractions and we had access to a couple of special vantage points to take in city view. We visited a couple of local markets and had lunch at one. This is a great tour to get introduced to Cusco.

Coming from a sea level town, the altitude of Cusco was tough to get acclimated to. Alex was the tour guide and he set a good pace throughout the day. I would 10 out of 10 recommend this day tour for anyone who likes to get past the main tourist streets. The places are well traverse but this tour gives a slightly different perspective. Lots of fun for those interested in street, portrait, and micro shots. I tend to lean towards landscapes, but with Alex’s support I was galvanized to take some portrait shots that I am very happy with.

As we all expect, Cusco is an amazing, wonderful place to visit. Thanks to Alex, our Guide, those expectations were even exceeded, and the day of Photography Tour, became our favorite one in over 2 weeks of exploring Peru. Alex took us to spots were tourists don’t go and we were able to see true, local atmosphere and “flavors” of the city. He was very helpful in giving me advice on taking photos, various angles, how and where position the camera, etc.

Alex was also able to help suggest photo shots and angles that may not have been obvious. The only negative was the tour stated there would be a Pisco sour provided at the end and we ended up paying for our. Still it was well worth the time and money

We had a great time, learned a lot about the culture and history, and were lucky to meet people, native Cusconians (not sure if that’s a proper word 🙂 ), and would recommend Cusco Photo Day Tour and Alex to everyone. Thank you Alex !

Alex made the day fun and easy. He is passionate and skilled at photography and has made the effort to learn and connect with the people and region’s culture. I found Andean Photography Expedition day tour in Cusco to be educational in understanding more of my camera’s functions, as well as gaining insights into the lives of the local people. Lots of walking up and down the streets of Cusco, but don’t let that deter you from a truly fantastic way to start any journey through Peru.

Taking into consideration the high altitude and the hilly streets of Cusco, the tour is well-paced with timely stops for coffee, lunch, and drinks. Do prepare for occasional precipitation – Cusco is full of surprises, so is its weather.

I think I may be one of Alex’s first customers, but he is no novice in photography, the outdoors, or touring in Peru! He’s delightful, patient, and full of spirit. He shared many photography tips with me throughout the day, his knowledge of stones (while waiting for a quick hail storm to pass), and his passion for the wild. To top everything off, I received his awesome shots the second day!

If you have a full day in Cusco, book the tour! It will make your day and memories.

The Cusco tour Pedro took us to a very traditional local market which I absolutely love, then we went to a lake and ended at a very beautiful salt mine. And it’s very cool that Pedro and I are actually using the same camera system (Fuji XT) and it’s very nice of him to share his lens with me so that I can try different lens and filters.

I had great two days with both Dan and Pedro and definitely hope I will have the chance to go to their longer expeditions in the future. I absolutely recommend anyone who is passionate about photography and would like to learn the beautiful culture of Peru to sign up for Dan and Pedro’s expeditions!

A different view of Peru
Even if I live in Cusco for 3 years new, discovering it with new and profesional eyes was an amazing experience.
It’s always good to have a guide to show you places you wouldn’t maybe notice without the help of someone who really loves the nature, the culture and landscapes and teach you “how” to open your eyes.
It’s so easy to be close to a great spot and miss it. Worse, you could see the same things thousands of tourists already saw, whose images are easily available on Google!
That’s why discovering the andes with profesional eyes is so important.
Pedro is a real alternative to the usual tours where you only will see what you already can see on the Web 😉
Highly recommended!