Thanks for your kind comments.
I always go everywhere on my own; I don't like excursions, they are very inflexible. First I look at the internet, for example, "What to do in Cusco for 4 days". There I find out about the possibilities, transportation, routes and many other things. Then if there is a need to rent a car, with Google maps I travel the entire route that I am going to do so as not to find any surprises. I schedule stops of about 160-200 miles and I take it easy. South America is not the place they show in the movies; all routes are paved, with good indications and the GPS works everywhere. Also there are good hotels, hostels, restaurants and gas stations along the routes.