Peru

Dont miss the Scared Valley. The ruins at Pisac are wonderful. Also really loved the village of Ollataytambo. I assume u will also be spending time in Cusco.

If you've never visited the country before then I'd recommend looking at guide books' recommended classic routes to get an idea of what to see and do.

adventures.worldnomads.com/destination/168/itinerary/23.aspx

Gringo Trail Lima to MP...to adjust to altitude and see it all

www.wasai.com for jungle from Cusco...

Have fun,

Thank you qwovadis.
Really interesting

Tour operators?, we would like to have a good guide all the way with us.

We used a local Cusco travel planner/guide who did a great job for our private tour - David Choque of Cusco Top Travel & Treks - lots of positive reviews here if you search using his name

Link to our blog

http://lizandrichardsa.typepad.com/liz_and_richard_in_south_/machu_picchu_and_lake_titicaca/

I 2nd David Choque -- he greatly enhanced our trip.

It really depends on what you love to do. If you enjoy ecology then the rainforest and the Ballista Islands and Paracas are must dos. If you love ancient cultures, (after MP) the sacred valley, and up the northern coast to Chiclayo and Trujillo and even right outside of Lima at Caral. If you like gambling Lima has some fairly impressive casinos. Wine tasting - go down to Ica to the vineyards.

What do you enjoy doing? Peru probably has it.

We love nature and culture. Do not care for Casinos.
Thank you for all your ideas.
David Choque it is

hello and help!!
We were set to go on a trip via a tour operator but couldn't due to our funds got depleted ( the tour was gonna costs $10K with plane tickets)...Can a family of three ( a parent and two teens) make it independently in June for 14-16 days with a $6K budget including plane tickets and hit the highlights of Peru ( Cuzco, Sacred Valley, Machu Picchu)...I'm especially interested in just getting tour operators there or maybe a private guide - would that be less expensive? Any suggestions are greatly appreciated. My son graduates from high school in May and this was supposed to be a graduation present...Thanks in advance...

aktravel - I used Peru Best Travel and they customized to my list of places and budget. Mike was my contact. Even if they can't help you they'll be honest about the prices and what you can get.

ak if you can return before June 15 LAN has airfare sales on now to Lima from various places in the US. Tickets must be purchased by April 5. You will still need to add flights to Cusco, Lan tends to be expensive but can also try Taca.

If you think you can swing the airfare than you can find inexpensive lodgings easily and hire guides when you get there.

I went with my dad and brother last August. We did a 5 day Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu and absolutely loved it. It wasn't the standard trek, which was nice. We saw a handful of other tourists along they way, but not the hundreds you will see while on the typical 4 day trek. We had a travel guide, porters, and cooks the whole way, and it cost about $500 per person. It was just the 3 of us and our guide and cook. The company we did it through was Apus Peru, and I highly recommend them. I do not remember our guide's last name but ask for Mayra.

We also went on a zipline tour right outside of Santa Teresa (which I wanna say is 15 km from Machu Picchu?). This was definitely a highlight of the trip. They have 7 different cable lines spanning the Andean Valleys and it is quite a breathtaking experience. You spend about 2 hours ziplining and climbing. Very cool. Rather inexpensive as well. It's called Canopy Cola de Mono.
http://www.canopyperu.com/

aktravel
With the aid of a good guide book and a bit of forward planning you could have a good DIY experience in Peru. As mlgb says once you have got your flights sorted it is easy to sort out inexpensive tours when you are there (although most highlights can be visited without a guide). We spent less than $100 per day staying in decent accomodation and eating well inc. most expenses but excluding tours.

Good resources include
http://www.saexplorers.org/club/home
http://andeantravelweb.com/

Good, cheap accommodation at:

www.hostelworld.com
www.hostelbookers.com

With both of these you can book in advance online:

As for a trek, I can recomend the Lares _ Ollytantambo trek.
We used Miguel Jovens as a guide and he was really excellent and great value for money.


miguelj24@hotmail.com or miguelj24@gmail.com

We were in Peru for a couple of months and details of our trip and photos can be found on our blog

http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog/candcthai/1/tpod.html
Entries #56 on cover Peru

Also AK it isn't necessary to spend 14-16 days if your main interest is Cusco-MP-Sacred Valley. Ten days would be fine.

Thanks so much for all the responses....I was out of town for awhile and these responses never got to my gmail for some reason. You all are so awesome....!Hope I can return the favor one day...

Just came back from Peru!
Fantastic!

Great! Where did you go?

SKIP CUSCO AND MACHU PICCHU THEY ARE NOTHING MORE THAN TOURIST TRAPS AND YOU GET THE BONUS OF ALTITUDE SICKNESS CUSCO HAS SOME INTERESTING SIGHTS BUT SO DOES MOGIDISHU SOMALIA CUSCO HAS GROWN ALOT SINCE LAST TIME I WAS HERE IN THE EARLY 90'S AND THE SHANTIES/SLUMS NOW SPRAWL ALL UP THE VALLEY SIDES LOOKS ALMOST LIKE NUEVO LAREDO SLUMS MACHU PICCHU WILL COST YOU AT THE CHEAPEST WITH ROUND TRIP BACK TO CUSCO $150 USD..CUSCO ALSO HAS SMOG DISEL POLLUTION AS BAD AS LOS ANGLES ON A STILL DAY. I AM EXTREMLY SADDENED BY THE CHANGES AND THE COMMERCIALISM OF WHAT WAS A WONDER OF WORLD IN SHORT IF RUINS LIKE MACHU PICCHU ARE YOUR THING GO SOME PLACE ANGWAR WAT OR TEOTACHUN IN MEXICO. THEY ARE EVERY BIT AS IMPRESSIVE WITHOUT GETTING ALTITUDE SICKNESS. NOTE ABOUT ALTITUDE SICKNESS IF YOU HAVE BREATHING PROBLEMS OR HEART PROBLEMS CUCSO COULD PUT YOU IN THE HOSPITIAL OR WORSE!