Rosalie

Planning a three week trip this September for myself & Hubby. We are retired (ages 60's & 70's) and live in Vermont. First time to Peru! Know we can't do all/see all. Highlight will be Inca Trail & Rainbow Mountain hike. Would love any comments/constructive criticism/other ideas anyone can give.
We have purchase airline tickets so dates are locked in.

12 Sept-International arrival
13 Sept-Free day Lima
14 Sept-Travel to Paracas, free afternoon or visit Paracas Reserve or Ballestas Islands
15 Sept-Nazca Lines flight from Ica, return to Lima
16 Sept-Morning flight to Arequipa, afternoon free or guided tour
17 Sept-Colca Canyon tour, overnight Colca
18 Sept-Free day in Colca Canyon, optional hike (3 hours)
19 Sept- Visit Cruz del Condor, travel to Puno
20 Sept-Lake Titicaca, visit Uros & Taquile islands
21 Sept--Guided bus or private transfer Puno-Cusco
22 Sept-Cusco historic center, Saqsayhuaman
23 Sept-Sacred Valley
24 Sept-Sacred Valley
25 Sept- Begin 4D/3N Inca Trail Hike
26 Sept- Inca Trail
27 Sept-Inca Trail
28 Sept-Machu Picchu, overnight Aguas Calientes (if you would like)
29 Sept- Return to Sacred Valley or Cusco, afternoon free
30 Sept- Rainbow Mountain day 1
01 Oct-Rainbow Mountain, return to Cusco
02 Oct-Morning flight to Lima, meet international flight home
A BIG THANK YOU!
Rosalie

dwdvagamundo

Rosalie:

I'd see the Ballestas Islands for sure. Very interesting.

From Paracas, take a day bus to Nazca rather than to Ica and take the flight over the Nazca lines from there.

Take an overnite bus from Nazca to Arequipa; why return to Lima? Buses are very inexpensive, frequent and fun. And you will save one nite's hotel room.

Too much time near Colca Canyon. Colca was the one part of Peru that I wish I had skipped. Two days max for the trip from Arequipa. Also, to get to Puno by public transportation, I think you'll have to return to Arequipa. I'd spend more time in Arequipa or in Lima.

Rosalie

Thanks for your response. Not so interested in saving money with using buses....comfort is important especially to my other half!

mlgb

Hi Rosalie I think your itinerary looks pretty good actually. Am I correct that you are using a travel agent to set this all up and that's why you haven't asked about hotels?

I for one liked Colca Canyon.

Arequipa is okay without a tour, especially since you have nearly no time in town. Don't miss the the Santa Catalina Monastery. You can hire an English speaking guide there, so need to hire one to shepherd you from your hotel to the monastery. There is a restaurant attached to the monastery which is/was tied into Gaston Acurio...I have no idea if it is any good. I hope you are staying in the old historic part of Arequipa as well I assume you are required to stay in Cusco to continue to acclimate for the Trek and for the convenience of your tour operator?

Most of us would tell you to fly back to Lima the day before if that is possible...If you flights aren't fixed.

If you have just one free day in Lima I would recommend staying in Barranco which has a more village feel, and less intense and noisy than the other parts of Lima. I'm assuming your agent has put you up in a big brand Miraflores hotel or near the airport?

dwdvagamundo

Rosalie--

Overnight buses in South America--at least in Peru and Argentina--are more comfortable than tourist class airplane seats. Of course, the flight doesn't last as long, but when you add in the time of getting to and from the airport, checking in, going through security, etc., buses are time-competitive with flights. And if you take account of the fact that your current itinerary requires you to have take two flights (one back to Lima and one to Arequipa) you'd just be wasting precious travel time.

Second mlgb's idea of staying in Barranco in Lima.

I thought you would be adjusted to the altitude because you are going to Puno before Cusco. Do you have a tour to take you from Colca to Puno, or will you rely on public transportation?

mlgb

Btw Ballestas boats run only in the morning. So not an option unless you can get there before 8:30-9am

crellston

Looks fine to me. You have some very long days/early starts in there, notably the Colca - Puno day which will probably involve arriving in Puno after a 6-8hour bus ride around 8pm and starting at 07.30 the next day to see the lake and around the same time or raven earlier for the full day bus ride to Cusco. Don get me wrong they are brilliant trips but exhausting. I would plan an easy day on 22 sept! No real way of getting around that!

Shame you have so little time in Arequipa but agree with mlgb re visiting monasteries de Santa Catalina - a don't miss. If you can't make it during the day, they do offer nighttime trips on certain days. Allow 2-3 hours min. Gaston Acurio places are good but I have had good and bad experiences in his establishments.

On the 28th I wouldn't spend the night in AC and would return to Cusco or Ollantaytambo.

No Pisac? Maybe include a morning visit there with a hike from Tambo Machay to Cusco via Puka Pukara, Q'enka Sacsayhuaman on the way back.

Totally agree with the others re staying in Barranco. Far more interesting than miraflores.

mlgb

I have read that some IT hikers are so wiped/overwhelmed when they finally reach MP that they can't really absorb it. So that might be a reason to stay the night, and go back the next morning. September could possibly be marginal weather so that also gives you a second day to get some better conditions at the site. Then you could transfer all the way back to Cusco later on the 29th.

Rosalie

Thank you everyone for your input & suggestions. I am taking it all in. I'm still trying to digest my itinerary; and not so sure I understand the distances between all my choices or how tiring it is getting there. The only thing i really have to do relatively quickly is let my agent from Ayni-Peru know the exact dates we want to hike the Inca Trail. We are Airbnb Super Hosts in Vermont, USA; and I will most likely us them for staying in Lima, Cusco and elsewhere when available.

I'm an avid photographer so wanted to stay over night in MP; and as migb said take it all in after a little rest.

PaulKilfoil

I did the Inca Trail a few years ago at the age of 50 and without a personal porter - parts of it are quite hard (eg. Dead Woman's Pass), but the day you get to MP is relatively easy so it is no problem enjoying MP when you arrive.
However, I cannot recommend strongly enough that you stay the night in Aguas Calientes and go back to Cusco the next day - otherwise you'll be rushed looking around MP to catch your train. And MP is such a jaw-droppingly incredible place that you really want to savour your time there. The people in our group who caught a train back the same day regretted it. Besides, Aguas Calientes is a very pleasant little town and the hot springs are great to wallow in in the late afternoon.
Details (with pics) of my trip are at http://www.paulkilfoil.co.za/2010.aspx

mlgb

I assume that some providers allow you to take the late train back to Ollantaytambo (there are several that leave after the park closes). So being "RUSHED THROUGH" is not necessarily an issue. In rainy season however, the rains tend to come through later in the day.

mlgb

PS whether Aguas Calientes is a very pleasant little town is subject to debate and personal preference...Many prefer "Olly" especially outside of the hours when the day trippers are there. But Olly has fewer bars and pizza places than do AC or Cusco.

PaulKilfoil

Well, my wife and I stayed in both Aguas Calientes and Ollantaytambo and enjoyed both - no need to do only one of them or to rush back to Cusco. Rather take a slow trip back and enjoy the sights on the way.