19 day Peru Itinerary, your thoughts?
May 21st, 2013, 05:54 AM
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19 day Peru Itinerary, your thoughts?
Hello All i hope you can give your honest and excellent opinions on my GF and I's 19 day itinenary in Peru. Apologies for how detailed it is but i am a bit of a waffler.
Detailed:
Day 1: fly into Cuzco from Lima arriving at 11.30am. Take bus/minivan to Ollytantambo and stay the night there.
Day 2: Spend Am and most of Pm in Ollanta before getting the 19.00 train to Aguas Calientes for Machu Picchu arriving at 20.43.
Day 3: Up at 4am for the hike to MP and HP. Spend night in AC.
Day 4: If cloudy the day before we will do MP today otherwise we will climb Putacusi. Get 19.00 Train back to Ollanta.
Day 5: Get bus back to Cuzco, spend PM in Cuzco.
Day 6: Day in Cuzco. Leave on overnight bus to Arequipa
Day 7: Day in Arequipa, resting and exploring.
Day 8: Second day in Arequipa
Day 9: Go to Colca Canyon. Bus to Chivay, night in Chivay.
Day 10: Explore CC.
Day 11: Explore CC AM and back to Arequipa PM
Day 12: Arequipa
Day 13: El Misti trek
Day 14: El Misti return, night in Arequipa
Day 15: Arequpia in day overnight bus to Ica
Day 16: Ica to Haucachina, night in Haucachina.
Day 17: Day in Haucachina. Night in Hauacachina.
Day 18: Back to Ica and bus to Lima. Night in Lima.
Day 19: Lima flight out at 9.00am.
So what are your thoughts?
Just so everyone knows. We looked at Lake Titicacca and just don't want to go there. We do not want to see the Nazca lines and have almost zero interest in Lima.
However, i am concerned that we have nowhere near enough time in Cuzco and are thinking of taking a day away from Arequipa to spend more time in Cuzco, would you recommend this?
Please give your thoughts
Detailed:
Day 1: fly into Cuzco from Lima arriving at 11.30am. Take bus/minivan to Ollytantambo and stay the night there.
Day 2: Spend Am and most of Pm in Ollanta before getting the 19.00 train to Aguas Calientes for Machu Picchu arriving at 20.43.
Day 3: Up at 4am for the hike to MP and HP. Spend night in AC.
Day 4: If cloudy the day before we will do MP today otherwise we will climb Putacusi. Get 19.00 Train back to Ollanta.
Day 5: Get bus back to Cuzco, spend PM in Cuzco.
Day 6: Day in Cuzco. Leave on overnight bus to Arequipa
Day 7: Day in Arequipa, resting and exploring.
Day 8: Second day in Arequipa
Day 9: Go to Colca Canyon. Bus to Chivay, night in Chivay.
Day 10: Explore CC.
Day 11: Explore CC AM and back to Arequipa PM
Day 12: Arequipa
Day 13: El Misti trek
Day 14: El Misti return, night in Arequipa
Day 15: Arequpia in day overnight bus to Ica
Day 16: Ica to Haucachina, night in Haucachina.
Day 17: Day in Haucachina. Night in Hauacachina.
Day 18: Back to Ica and bus to Lima. Night in Lima.
Day 19: Lima flight out at 9.00am.
So what are your thoughts?
Just so everyone knows. We looked at Lake Titicacca and just don't want to go there. We do not want to see the Nazca lines and have almost zero interest in Lima.
However, i am concerned that we have nowhere near enough time in Cuzco and are thinking of taking a day away from Arequipa to spend more time in Cuzco, would you recommend this?
Please give your thoughts
May 21st, 2013, 06:44 AM
#2
Hi Klang
Some comments
Did you know that the procedure for hiking Huayna Picchu has changed? There is no more getting up at 4 am to wait in line, now you have to (pre-buy) a ticket that includes a surcharge for hiking Huayna Picchu. Tickets can be bought at www.machupicchu.gob.pe with a Visa card. The site at MP opens around 6 am, I believe. The earliest you can hike HP is at 7 am, and there is a second slot at 10 am. There are some tricks to completing the purchase (this gets discussed over at TripAdvisor a lot).
I would do the train ride at least one way during daylight. For that, take a train no later than around 3:30 pm.
Yes I would add a day to Cusco.
It doesn't take any time (10 mintues) to get from Ica to Huacachina, they are basically the same place. Huacachina is a one-day visit. So you can take Day 16 and add it to Cusco.
Not sure how the busses are from Cusco to Arequipa.
Some comments
Did you know that the procedure for hiking Huayna Picchu has changed? There is no more getting up at 4 am to wait in line, now you have to (pre-buy) a ticket that includes a surcharge for hiking Huayna Picchu. Tickets can be bought at www.machupicchu.gob.pe with a Visa card. The site at MP opens around 6 am, I believe. The earliest you can hike HP is at 7 am, and there is a second slot at 10 am. There are some tricks to completing the purchase (this gets discussed over at TripAdvisor a lot).
I would do the train ride at least one way during daylight. For that, take a train no later than around 3:30 pm.
Yes I would add a day to Cusco.
It doesn't take any time (10 mintues) to get from Ica to Huacachina, they are basically the same place. Huacachina is a one-day visit. So you can take Day 16 and add it to Cusco.
Not sure how the busses are from Cusco to Arequipa.
May 21st, 2013, 07:06 AM
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Thanks very much for your tips. Yes id id realise it has changed and that we would have to get our tickets beforehand but the early rise is so that we can walk to the gate of MP instead of getting the bus. Thanks for your heads up though.
Good tip on the train ride though, we saw it as a means to an end but you are right it is an experience in itself!
Good tip on Huacachina and great to free up some time there!
Good tip on the train ride though, we saw it as a means to an end but you are right it is an experience in itself!
Good tip on Huacachina and great to free up some time there!
May 21st, 2013, 07:14 AM
#5
I don't know if you are interested in this lodging option in Ollantaytambo. It's a homestay option with locals that the NGO Awamaki has helped to develop.
http://awamaki.org/visit/homestays/
http://awamaki.org/visit/homestays/
May 23rd, 2013, 11:50 AM
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We just climbed Huayna on Saturday May 18th and had the 11 am slot (pre purchased tickets). It was the last one of the day so check the times. Earlier times would have been better but most of us were back down by 1:30 to 2pm and still toured MP thoroughly.
We had a hard time knowing what to expect on Huayna because some say it's death defying while others say lots of older folks climbed it - no big deal. Our fears of long deep drops next to the stairs were unfounded. It is steep but with the cable rails in the right places and the thick vegetation its safe enough.
Just be prepared for lots and lots and lots of uneven rock stairs with the upper stairs having sheer drop offs to level terraces about 15 to 20 feet below. Coming back down was hardest because you are a little worn out and the rock stairs seem smaller looking down.
Just plan to take your time as your fitness levels allow and it will be a worthwhile experience!
We had a hard time knowing what to expect on Huayna because some say it's death defying while others say lots of older folks climbed it - no big deal. Our fears of long deep drops next to the stairs were unfounded. It is steep but with the cable rails in the right places and the thick vegetation its safe enough.
Just be prepared for lots and lots and lots of uneven rock stairs with the upper stairs having sheer drop offs to level terraces about 15 to 20 feet below. Coming back down was hardest because you are a little worn out and the rock stairs seem smaller looking down.
Just plan to take your time as your fitness levels allow and it will be a worthwhile experience!
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