litepacker

My message... be travelling next week to peru on a 10 day organized tour.
We start in Lima -> Sacred Valley -> By train to MP one full day ->1 day leisure in cuzco ->Travel to Raqchi& Puno-> Spend a day in Puno and travel back to Lima to catch a flight home.

I know this is somewhat packed of an agenda, we are travelling with our daughters 13 and 15 in a decent physical shape. Here is where I am hoping you lovely people can help:
1. Are there any day hikes that we can do in Sacred valley, Cuzco and Puno based on our itinerary ? We dont have time to do the Inca trail in its entirety, but am wondering if there is a chance to do one day of the hike?
2. Apart from the excursion to Lake Titicaca, are there other things that we can also do, during the 2 overnight days we are in the puno area?
3. We have a day in Lima and curious if there are some sites apart from the usual suspects like the museums that we can take the kids to ?

Also, one of my daughters and I are vegetarian. I am wondering if we will get anything to eat or should we pack some dry snacks from here ?
Appreciate your help.

rkkwan

Lots of companies offer one-day Inca Trail hike, which they advertise as "Two day Inca Trail" because second day is simply going back up to Machu Picchu again for a proper tour, with overnight at a hotel in Aquas Caliente. But you still need to go with a company, as a permit via them is still required for the day-hike from KM104 up to Sun Gate and down to MP.

If your tour already includes train to MP and one day there, you should consult them to add a day prior for you to do the hike. Or if they don't do it, arrange with a different company for the two-day tour and then ask your original company to get a refund for the train tickets. Or try to get the two companies to negotiate, etc...

crellston

The best day hike i has done around Cusco and the SV is from Tambo Machay to Cusco. you could get the bus or taxi to TM and walk back via Puka Pukara, Quenka and Sacsayhuaman. it is all downhill and takes around three hours, longer if you want to spend a lot of time at each location. we took a picnic and stretched it out. more detail and photos on our blog @ http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog...ai/6/tpod.html

to make along day you could go to Pisac first, explore the ruins and get the bus or taxi back to Tambo Mackay and walk back from there.

Most tours to Titicaca include a trip to Uros and and Taquile island. the latter usually gives an option of a couple of hours hike across the island. be aware it is VERY high and you will doubtless feel the effects of altitude. In fact your itinerary doesn't leave much time to acclimatise so best to take it easy for the first few days.
There are one day hikes on part of the inca trail but i really wouldn't bother. cusco has so much to see and do. One day is barely enough to scratch the surface.

litepacker

Thank you for the insights ! The day long hike around MP seem doable ! I also hear there is a trek from Aquas Clienteles to MP that is beautiful. I am assuming this is outside of the Inca Trail, accurate ?

Any other inputs on the altitude sickness ?I am not even sure how we will react to this yet !

Thanks again !

crellston

This covers it pretty well:

http://www.fitfortravel.nhs.uk/advic...nd-travel.aspx

rkkwan

Aquas Caliente to MP is simply the path to go up the hill, rather than taking the bus up the zig-zag road. It is along the hillside in the narrow valley, so I don't see it as particularly scenic or beautiful. But it is not part of the current "Inca Trail" that requires a permit.

I have no idea if that path was originally laid out by the Incas for going from the river to MP or not.