Top 5 best scooter rentals in Cusco

Cusco moves at a different pace once you're on two wheels. The cobbled lanes climbing out of Plaza de Armas, the switchbacks up toward Sacsayhuamán, the open road running out to the Sacred Valley — a scooter turns all of it into a single, unhurried afternoon instead of a string of taxi negotiations. One minute you're weaving past the cathedral, the next you're standing under the Cristo Blanco with the whole city laid out below you in terracotta roofs.

This is a city built for a scooter, not a car. Cusco's historic centre is a maze of narrow, steep, one-way cobbled streets where a car struggles to turn and can rarely find anywhere to park. A scooter slips through the same streets without a second thought and leaves you right at the ruins circuit above town — Sacsayhuamán, Q'enqo, Puka Pukara and Tambomachay are all strung along one loop road within easy reach of the centre. Once you're comfortable on the altitude and the mountain bends, the same scooter can carry you further out into the Sacred Valley, to places the buses only reach on their own schedule.

Top 10 things to see in Cusco by scooter

1. Sacsayhuamán — massive Inca fortress walls just above the city, an easy short ride up from the centre.
2. Cristo Blanco — a panoramic viewpoint over Cusco's rooftops, reached on the same hill as Sacsayhuamán.
3. Q'enqo — a carved-rock Inca ceremonial site a few minutes past Sacsayhuamán on the same loop road.
4. Puka Pukara — a small Inca lookout and fort along the road toward Tambomachay.
5. Tambomachay — an Inca "water temple" with stone aqueducts, the classic turnaround point of the ruins loop.
6. San Blas neighbourhood — a steep cobbled artisan quarter above Plaza de Armas, best explored at a slow pace.
7. Plaza de Armas — the city's colonial heart and the natural place to start or end any ride.
8. Mirador de San Cristóbal — a close-in viewpoint over the historic centre, just a few minutes from downtown.
9. Salineras de Maras — thousands of ancient salt pools terraced into a hillside, a rewarding longer ride into the Sacred Valley.
10. Moray — circular Inca agricultural terraces near Maras, easy to combine with the salt pans on the same trip.

What do you need to rent a scooter in Cusco?

You'll need a motorcycle-class licence to ride legally in Peru; in practice, many rental shops in the tourist area will accept a regular car licence, though that isn't strictly the legal rule, so carrying an International Driving Permit alongside your home licence is the safer bet. The legal driving age is 18, but most rental companies set their own floor higher, commonly 21 and sometimes 25 for the larger machines. Expect to leave a deposit, usually held on a credit card, with your passport or ID copied for the paperwork.

How much does it cost to rent a scooter in Cusco?

Prices swing a fair amount with the season and the size of the bike. A basic scooter runs around 20 PEN per day in low season, climbing to roughly 35–45 PEN per day in high season, and a newer or larger-cc model can reach 60–90 PEN per day.

• Cheapest: November to February/March, when rain keeps visitor numbers down.
• Priciest: June to August, the dry season, when Inti Raymi and peak tourism push demand up.

When to book a rental scooter in Cusco?

If you're coming during June to August, book ahead — this is both the dry season and Cusco's busiest stretch, so scooters get booked up and prices sit at their highest. Travel outside that window, from November through February or March, and you'll find quieter streets and lower prices, in exchange for the chance of rain on the mountain roads. May and September sit nicely in between, with dry roads and a lighter crowd.

Local traffic rules in Cusco

Peru drives on the right, and helmets are mandatory for both rider and passenger on any scooter. Speed limits generally run around 30 km/h near schools and hospitals, 40 km/h on ordinary city streets, and up to 60 km/h on the wider urban avenues. The legal blood alcohol limit is 0.5 g/L, and checkpoints are common, so don't ride after drinking. Cusco's roads are high-altitude and can turn foggy fast, so ride defensively, especially once you head out toward Maras and Moray.

Types of scooters available

On our website you can rent the following types of scooters: classic scooter, Vespa, moped, motoroller, motoscooter, with a sidecar, with automatic or manual gears, three-wheeled scooters, large, maxi-scooter, touring, scooters with a windscreen and a roof, underbones, electric scooters.

Models of scooters available

On our website you can hire scooters from the following manufacturers: Adly, Aeon, Aprilia, Piaggio, Bajaj, Benelli, Beta, BMW, Derbi, Gilera, Honda, Kawasaki, Kymco, LML, Malaguti, Peugeot, PGO, Suzuki, SYM, TVS, Vespa, Yamaha.

Which insurance is provided with my rental scooter?

Usually basic third-party insurance is included in the rental price. If you wish to have more protection you can purchase additional CDW insurance, which limits your risk to the amount of your deposit. If you wish to rent a scooter without a deposit and with zero risk, you will need to add full insurance to your reservation.

Extra services available

When you make an online scooter reservation you can also order the following extra services and equipment: integral helmet, GPS navigation, intercom, unlimited mileage, top case, side cases, boots, jacket, gloves, individual guide or tour, map, full insurance, one-way rental, delivery to your hotel, delivery to your address, delivery to the arrival point of your choice.

Why use BikesBooking.com?

• Find the best deals for scooter hire;
• Compare prices of scooter rental companies;
• Read reviews of previous customers;
• Reserve a scooter online with the Best Price Guarantee!

Most of our local moped rental companies have many years of experience and will provide you with a well-kept scooter, helmet, lock, top case, GPS, insurance and friendly service. The number of companies we work with is increasing every day, so if you want to rent a scooter, just use the search form at the top of the page. Have a nice trip!