cmcfong

Here are some great restaurants, well worth a try. Vincent Cafe, Av. Gran 120 Miraflores, Lima Peru. Casual, wide variety of foods, includes vegetarian choices. Very interesting Dutch owner and Peruvian wife. Comfortable and inviting decor, great food!
In Cusco, try the MAP Cafe, Plaza Nazarenas 231. Incredibly good food, very reasonable prices, good wine list. Service is well informed and top notch.
Also in Cusco, the Inka Grill. Great food and good music. Located on the main Plaza. Terrific sweet potato chips and uniquely Peruvian dip.
If you are looking for a guide for the Inca Trail, the Sacred Valley or Machu Picchu, you cannot find a more agreeable, well informed, courteous person than Holber T. Vizcarra. His English is fluent and his knowledge very broad. Contact him by email at [email protected].
Our trip was arranged completely by Lost World Adventures 1-800-373-5820. Every single phase of the trip was perfectly planned and executed. I would recommend them without reservation. Ask for Denise.

Wendy1124

I am planning to go to Cusco this July for about 4 -5 days and as part of the package, I have to choose between the Picaoga Hotel and the Novotel Hotel...not sure what the difference is between them... My main concern is cleanliness, safety, comfort and good food.... so any advice would be greatly appreciated.

If you have any recommendations on restaurants, sights and scenery not to miss? I know that in July it is their winter, so what's your advice on the dress code? layers? how cold does it really get? and how rainy? and what feet wear are appropriate? hiking boots or sneakers?

I am hearing different things about the altitude sickness ...and I'm getting worried... what type of medication works and what should be the usual protocol? I actually went to Lima last December and was sick for many days due to stomach issues.. and I dont want a repeat session....esp. not to ruin a trip to MP and Cusco.

Well, I thank you in advance for all of your help!
Best Regards,
Wendy

cmcfong

Hi Wendy

I am sorry but I don't know anything about the two hotels you are considering. All the hotels near the main plaza have security staff. The biggest safety risk is theft.

I never experienced any problems with altitude. I am 57 and fit.

As to sights in Cuzco, there are several excellent churches, good museums and a wonderful weaving center right in town. I recommend hiring a guide so you get the full benefit. I also recommend walking, there is so much to see you might miss it in a car. The ruins in Cuzco are very accessible and there are a number of interesting sites in the Valley.

My party booked through Lost World Adventures and they arranged a private guide for us. Great plan. We were able to hear all the narratives, ask for more time when something interested us, choose where we went (we wanted to buy Peruvian made sweaters and ceramics...our guide took us to the places they were made and we got some excellent deals plus some gorgeous stuff. By the way,we looked for but never found anything like the gorgeous sweaters in the Peruvian Connections catalogue). One thing we all appreciated was our guide knew where to find nice bathrooms. We had a small van for just the four of us so we were able to leave our purses, purchases, etc in the van with the driver while we did our sightseeing.

I wore hiking boots for extended walks, but otherwise had on a pair of Naot mary janes. Very comfortable and not quite so casual looking as sneakers. I wore slacks and sweaters over cotton shirts and never felt uncomfortable about meeting the dress code. I was there in November and we never needed a coat. I cannot advise on July weather.

I also posted a response to your other message on this board.

Hope this helps. It is a great adventure.

ncanavan

On altitude sickness. While in Peru last year (coming from sea level)my wife and I used Diamox because I was unwilling to risk problems - our itinerary took us to Colca Canyon first, which is higher than Cuzco. The diamox works very well, but is a powerful diaretic.
I also highly recommend coca leaves. They knock out the headache, relieve fatigue, and the effect lasts only as long as you are chewing.

Dayvillegal

I'm going to be in Peru for two weeks in the near future, and have just found out my phone card will not work there. Can any one tell me if there are email cafes there as there are in Italia or is one stuck with paying the escalated phone charges to call home from there. Thanks for helping.

ncanavan

There are loads of internet cafes in Cusco, and even Aqua Cliente has a calling center. Net access costs almost nothing, but I never made any calls.

kang

Wendy: Lima is 83 meters above sea level so any health problem happened in Lima should have nothing to do with altitude sickness.

Cuzco is about 3300 meters above sea level. The vast majority of people don't have problem at that altitude. Unless you are hiking the Inca trail, otherwise, the chances of having health problems for just touring the MP are very slim.

Altitude sickness is not related to physical conditions, age, gender; it just happens to some people but not to others. So it is impossible to predict what any individual's reaction for changing altitude might be. But again, at 3300, most people have no problems.

Since you are staying in the area for 4/5 days, if you don't feel comfortable after arriving in Cuzco, go to Sacred Valley to spend one night or two before heading back to Cuzco again. SV is 20miles form Cuzco at 2600 and supposed to be a must-see as well, so you will be visiting there anyway.

kang

The name of the town near Sacred Valley is Pisac, 20 miles from Cuzco. There is a huge weekly market on Sunday and a smaller one on Thurday. Sacred valley is an absolute must-see. So to play it save, you might just book your first night in Pisac and hire a taxi heading to Pisac directly from Cuzco airport. After certain hours in Pisac/SV area at 2600(no one would have problems at that altitude), the chances for altitude sickness later on in Cuzco is just about to be nil.

winesaavy7

Was your trip expensive or is this a budget agency you used?

cmcfong

Winesavy, my trip cost about $1,000 per person in a party of four not including airfare. We had a private driver, good hotels, excellent guides and all of that was included in the price. I highly recommend Lost World Adventures.

cmcfong

ttt
I used Lost World Adventures to plan my trip and was very pleased with every aspect. Andrew Gilchrist is the owner.

ameliaisland

I just returned from Cusco and we stayed at the Liberatador- It was perfect. It is close to the plaza-3-4 minute safe walk- and had a wondeful staff and breakfast buffet included. Enjoy!

buddzgirl

Re: Hotels in Cusco. We just stayed at Novotel and liked it very much. Comfy, great food, they had water purification and it was within a 5 minute walk of everything we wanted to see in Cusco. Security was great -- room had its own little safe.

vmcb

Regarding the hotels--we stayed at Novotel earlier this year and were very pleased. Hotel and staff were great, had a nice restaurant, and was an easy walk to the main plaza. Try for the colonial part of the hotel--rooms overlook the atrium/lobby area and is quite charming. The newer part of the hotel doesn't have as much character. You will likely pay more for the colonial part.

winesaavy7

cmcfong if you're still checking this thread.........
how long ago did you use the lost world adventures co? The prices I saw on the website were at least 2500$ for any tour not including airfare.

ameliaisland

The Inka Grill in Cusco is great and so is the MAP resturant. We stayed at the Liberatador- so I cannot help you on the hotel. Have a great time. It is beautiful

cmcfong

Winesavy, I used the Lost World Adventures agency in 2003. Before you give up on them, call Andrew Gilchrist, the owner, and ask him if he can tailor a trip for you within your budget. I was very pleased with the arrangements they made for me in Peru.
Buen viaje.

cmcfong

topping

Graziella5b

Hi cmcfong, I know you because you enjoy WOW Argentina as we do. We are planing to visit as you did
Lima, Cusco , Aguas calientes and Machupichu. Would you be so kind as to write to me so I can ask you a few questions. Thank you, [email protected]

cmcfong

Graziella, double check that address. I sent you an email and it bounced back as undeliverable. You can email me at my screenname on yahoo if you prefer.