Peru Trip Report
Mar 12th, 2008, 01:20 PM
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Peru Trip Report
Hola todos!
I went to Peru last July/August (yes, I am finally posting my reflections) and fell quickly in love with the landscape and culture (all of you who are planning your first trip, you will love it!) There is soo much to say about Peru that it cannot all be said. If you have any further questions, just ask. And please if you know of any language schools in Cusco, please give feedback on my other post (I will be returning to Peru this July ,and thanks to those of you who helped my last year).
Quick Synposis:
I traveled independently to Peru last July/August. I volunteered a month in Huancayo and then proceeded to travel to the Amazon basin, Tambopata, and then Cusco. I will try to provide some personal insights from last year's trip.
Hotel Recommendations:
Without a doubt, NINOS HOTEL IN CUSCO. The ninos project that the hotel funds (see their website for more info) is inspirational and attracts travelers of all ages with similiar aspirations. If you stay in the hotel, and even if you don't, be sure to take the free tour of the project (in english or spanish)- just call or ask the front desk a day in advance. The volumes of positive commentary on this hotel and project are well deserved.
In Lima, I have stayed at the Casa Bella Peru, in San Isidro. The cost was $45/double. The staff was friendly, I had a clean room and the hotel was secure. I would definitely stay there again. Con: The hotel is not near any 'main' Lima attractions and a taxi is necessary for any sightseeing.
Volunteer Experience:
Peru Luz de Esperanza in Huancayo - rewarding experience! I will be returning this summer. They have a variety of volunteer assignments (you choose your assignment based on the skills you have), homestay with a Peruvian family (they will become your own family) and excursions on Saturdays. Last year the cost was $100/week, which included the homestay, 3 tasty meals a day (except Sunday) and the Saturday field trip (hike the mountain pass if you can - llamas, glaciers, breathtaking views). More information about this Peruvian NGO is on their website. Con: need at least a week to commit, minimal/some English spoken (the program is off the well-traveled path), volunteer schedules can change unexpectedly. For those with teens, last summer there was a teen volunteer at the house and she loved it!
Inca Trek: (went end of August 2007)
I went with United Mice. Everything went as planned, quality equipment, fantastic food, trained, guide...PROS: left 4am in the morning on the 1st day, which allowed us to have the trail virtually to ourselves the first day. CONS: United Mice did not communicate to the bus companies our transportation needs after the trek (they said the buses were taken care of), we had to search and arrange for our transportation in Ollyantambo.
I chose United Mice because their prices were middle of the road. Reflecting back I am glad I chose United Mice rather than the cheaper organizations. Many of the cheaper organizations attracted MUCH LARGER groups. Also you may want to think what "type" of people the tour company would attract, that will determine the physical and mental walking style of the trek.
Amazon Basin:
I went with Rainforest Expeditions on a 6d/5n-guided tour in the Tambopata Reserve. I stayed at Refugio Amazonas and Tambopata Research Center. In all honesty, I was disappointed with the service. A few guides called in "sick" the day that I arrived, so groups were rearranged (in a chaotic manner). On my first day in Refugio, my group contained over 16 people (too large for sightseeing). And then at the research center I was placed with a family who had 2 sons (a 6 year old and a 4 year old). This would not have troubled me, but I was not entitled to certain discounts because I was told that there was no one else in my group - I was going to be solo at Refugio and the Research Center. At the center all walking excursions were cut-short because the young children could not walk long-distances and the well-behaved children, but children nonetheless, were 'loud' walkers so we saw little. I complained numerous times, requested a partial refund, but nothing was done to change the situation. In terms of the rainforest experience, I would recommend that if people have the time to travel deeper into the forest, do it. And of course, it should go without saying, it is a rainforest. One's expectations should be of a rainforest with rain, more bugs than mammals/wildlife, few luxuries...
In the end I am more than happy that I experienced Tambopata.
Misc Advice (just my thoughts)
-Take time to 'experience' Peru, if you only have a week I would stay put in Cusco and its surrounds or go to the rainforest for a week
-Altitude: Cusco and Huancayo for that fact are high up, do not overdue it on the first day. I saw one to many travelers comment that they could 'slightly' feel the effects of the altitude when they arrived in Cusco. They went sightseeing the entire day and then felt ill for days afterwards. On the first day explore for 2 hours, rest, explore 2 hours more, rest.
-Try Peruvian food and drink!
-Ask about local festivals, dances, etc. There is always a festival somewhere. Ask locals or go to the South American Explorers Club.
-Play 'sapo', the Peruvians answer to darts and/or pool. I disclosed my curiosity about sapo to some locals and they took me to a local hangout to play. It is my understanding that mid-day is the most popular time of the day to play.
I went to Peru last July/August (yes, I am finally posting my reflections) and fell quickly in love with the landscape and culture (all of you who are planning your first trip, you will love it!) There is soo much to say about Peru that it cannot all be said. If you have any further questions, just ask. And please if you know of any language schools in Cusco, please give feedback on my other post (I will be returning to Peru this July ,and thanks to those of you who helped my last year).
Quick Synposis:
I traveled independently to Peru last July/August. I volunteered a month in Huancayo and then proceeded to travel to the Amazon basin, Tambopata, and then Cusco. I will try to provide some personal insights from last year's trip.
Hotel Recommendations:
Without a doubt, NINOS HOTEL IN CUSCO. The ninos project that the hotel funds (see their website for more info) is inspirational and attracts travelers of all ages with similiar aspirations. If you stay in the hotel, and even if you don't, be sure to take the free tour of the project (in english or spanish)- just call or ask the front desk a day in advance. The volumes of positive commentary on this hotel and project are well deserved.
In Lima, I have stayed at the Casa Bella Peru, in San Isidro. The cost was $45/double. The staff was friendly, I had a clean room and the hotel was secure. I would definitely stay there again. Con: The hotel is not near any 'main' Lima attractions and a taxi is necessary for any sightseeing.
Volunteer Experience:
Peru Luz de Esperanza in Huancayo - rewarding experience! I will be returning this summer. They have a variety of volunteer assignments (you choose your assignment based on the skills you have), homestay with a Peruvian family (they will become your own family) and excursions on Saturdays. Last year the cost was $100/week, which included the homestay, 3 tasty meals a day (except Sunday) and the Saturday field trip (hike the mountain pass if you can - llamas, glaciers, breathtaking views). More information about this Peruvian NGO is on their website. Con: need at least a week to commit, minimal/some English spoken (the program is off the well-traveled path), volunteer schedules can change unexpectedly. For those with teens, last summer there was a teen volunteer at the house and she loved it!
Inca Trek: (went end of August 2007)
I went with United Mice. Everything went as planned, quality equipment, fantastic food, trained, guide...PROS: left 4am in the morning on the 1st day, which allowed us to have the trail virtually to ourselves the first day. CONS: United Mice did not communicate to the bus companies our transportation needs after the trek (they said the buses were taken care of), we had to search and arrange for our transportation in Ollyantambo.
I chose United Mice because their prices were middle of the road. Reflecting back I am glad I chose United Mice rather than the cheaper organizations. Many of the cheaper organizations attracted MUCH LARGER groups. Also you may want to think what "type" of people the tour company would attract, that will determine the physical and mental walking style of the trek.
Amazon Basin:
I went with Rainforest Expeditions on a 6d/5n-guided tour in the Tambopata Reserve. I stayed at Refugio Amazonas and Tambopata Research Center. In all honesty, I was disappointed with the service. A few guides called in "sick" the day that I arrived, so groups were rearranged (in a chaotic manner). On my first day in Refugio, my group contained over 16 people (too large for sightseeing). And then at the research center I was placed with a family who had 2 sons (a 6 year old and a 4 year old). This would not have troubled me, but I was not entitled to certain discounts because I was told that there was no one else in my group - I was going to be solo at Refugio and the Research Center. At the center all walking excursions were cut-short because the young children could not walk long-distances and the well-behaved children, but children nonetheless, were 'loud' walkers so we saw little. I complained numerous times, requested a partial refund, but nothing was done to change the situation. In terms of the rainforest experience, I would recommend that if people have the time to travel deeper into the forest, do it. And of course, it should go without saying, it is a rainforest. One's expectations should be of a rainforest with rain, more bugs than mammals/wildlife, few luxuries...
In the end I am more than happy that I experienced Tambopata.
Misc Advice (just my thoughts)
-Take time to 'experience' Peru, if you only have a week I would stay put in Cusco and its surrounds or go to the rainforest for a week
-Altitude: Cusco and Huancayo for that fact are high up, do not overdue it on the first day. I saw one to many travelers comment that they could 'slightly' feel the effects of the altitude when they arrived in Cusco. They went sightseeing the entire day and then felt ill for days afterwards. On the first day explore for 2 hours, rest, explore 2 hours more, rest.
-Try Peruvian food and drink!
-Ask about local festivals, dances, etc. There is always a festival somewhere. Ask locals or go to the South American Explorers Club.
-Play 'sapo', the Peruvians answer to darts and/or pool. I disclosed my curiosity about sapo to some locals and they took me to a local hangout to play. It is my understanding that mid-day is the most popular time of the day to play.
Mar 12th, 2008, 04:22 PM
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Thanks for posting! This will assist me in planning my two month trip through Peru and Bolivia later this year.
I will be traveling solo for most of my trip and I am very interested in your experience in Huancayo. I am considering taking Spanish lessons for a week in conjunction with a home stay in order to get full immersion. I was also looking for a place that would take a volunteer for just a week. Please elaborate a bit on what you did for the volunteer work.
I didn't find a website for the hotel you mentioned in Cusco. How much was it per night?
Thanks!
I will be traveling solo for most of my trip and I am very interested in your experience in Huancayo. I am considering taking Spanish lessons for a week in conjunction with a home stay in order to get full immersion. I was also looking for a place that would take a volunteer for just a week. Please elaborate a bit on what you did for the volunteer work.
I didn't find a website for the hotel you mentioned in Cusco. How much was it per night?
Thanks!
Mar 12th, 2008, 07:39 PM
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Thanks, SmileyKrn, for your trip report! Sounds like you had a very good and immersive experience!
I'm working out the details for our peru trip in mid-May and have posted many questions. If you have time, I would appreciate it if you could answer any of the questions I've posted. Click on my screen name.
Really appreciate it!
I'm working out the details for our peru trip in mid-May and have posted many questions. If you have time, I would appreciate it if you could answer any of the questions I've posted. Click on my screen name.
Really appreciate it!
Mar 13th, 2008, 08:38 AM
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SmileyKm, I'm interested in the Ninos hotel too. Is it in a convenient and safe area of town?
I saw its location on a map in a travel guide, and it does look a bit out of the way from most of the other hotels?
Thanks for your input.
I saw its location on a map in a travel guide, and it does look a bit out of the way from most of the other hotels?
Thanks for your input.
Mar 13th, 2008, 12:08 PM
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feedback on Ninos Hotel:
The website for the hotel is:
http://www.ninoshotel.com/
(you will see a British Flag icon in the bottom right-hand corner for English)
In terms of location: The Ninos Hotel 1 is 4-6 blocks from the Plaza de Armas (10-15 minute walk). The hotel is located in a semi-resisdential area. Therefore there are no locals trying to sell postcards, hats, etc. outside of the hotel
Ninos 2 is 2 more blocks further from the main plaza. Maps can sometimes be deceiving. I found some maps in guidebooks to only cover 1/4 of mile in terms of distance, but the map covers 2 pages in the guidebook.
In terms of safety, the hotel is more than secure. I never felt endangered walking to the hotel. The streets are crowded with people.
Need to run some errands...more to come on volunteering!
The website for the hotel is:
http://www.ninoshotel.com/
(you will see a British Flag icon in the bottom right-hand corner for English)
In terms of location: The Ninos Hotel 1 is 4-6 blocks from the Plaza de Armas (10-15 minute walk). The hotel is located in a semi-resisdential area. Therefore there are no locals trying to sell postcards, hats, etc. outside of the hotel
Ninos 2 is 2 more blocks further from the main plaza. Maps can sometimes be deceiving. I found some maps in guidebooks to only cover 1/4 of mile in terms of distance, but the map covers 2 pages in the guidebook.In terms of safety, the hotel is more than secure. I never felt endangered walking to the hotel. The streets are crowded with people.
Need to run some errands...more to come on volunteering!
Mar 14th, 2008, 03:49 AM
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Do you think one day is sufficient to adjust to the altitude for those of us who are "flat-landers"? I'm planning a trip for next year and want to see Machu Picchu and am concerned about the time it might take us to adjust to the altitude, so that we plan enough time. Thanks.
Mar 14th, 2008, 12:59 PM
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In response to some of your questions:
In Huancayo I taught the children in Peru Luz de Esperanza's after school program. Each day of the week I would attend a different village and teach geography (I am a high school global studies teacher in USA). The after school program was created by the organization to give students more educational support. Other volunteers help construct classrooms, some did house visits and provided basic knowledge on nutrition and health, and yet others help the mothers in the area build scarfs or bake bread for self-income. Those with little spanish were often assigned to teach English. However they work with your assests and wishes.
The program does offer spanish lessons and weaving classes.
Information about their program can be found on their website (english).
http://www.peruluzdeesperanza.com/peruluzdeesperanza/
Altitude Adjustment:
You will need a day or two in Huancayo to adjust, just like in Cusco.
Altitude sickness is unpredictable. Some people have no effects, others are not mountain goats. I really cannot say if one day is sufficient for adjusting, but definitely allow at least one day.
Hopes this helps!
In Huancayo I taught the children in Peru Luz de Esperanza's after school program. Each day of the week I would attend a different village and teach geography (I am a high school global studies teacher in USA). The after school program was created by the organization to give students more educational support. Other volunteers help construct classrooms, some did house visits and provided basic knowledge on nutrition and health, and yet others help the mothers in the area build scarfs or bake bread for self-income. Those with little spanish were often assigned to teach English. However they work with your assests and wishes.
The program does offer spanish lessons and weaving classes.
Information about their program can be found on their website (english).
http://www.peruluzdeesperanza.com/peruluzdeesperanza/
Altitude Adjustment:
You will need a day or two in Huancayo to adjust, just like in Cusco.
Altitude sickness is unpredictable. Some people have no effects, others are not mountain goats. I really cannot say if one day is sufficient for adjusting, but definitely allow at least one day.
Hopes this helps!
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