dougemac

Hi all,

I would love some feedback and suggestions on my upcoming trip to Peru. So far I have allotted a little over 3 weeks for the trip but I am flexible. Here's my rough itinerary:

Day 1: Fly into Lima
Day 2: Lima
Day 3: Fly to Cusco
Days 4-5: Cusco
Days 6-10: Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu
Day 11: Bus to Puno
Day 12: Puno
Day 13: Bus to Colca Canyon/Arequipa
Day 14: Arequipa
Days 15-16: Mt. Misti Hike
Day 17: Bus to Nazca
Day 18: Cerro Blanco and around
Day 19: Bus to Ica
Day 20: Day in Huacachina Dunes
Day 21 and after: work my way back to Lima enjoying the coast along the way...

And there you have it. I'd love to hear what you guys think.
Am I excluding anything that I shouldn't? I'm looking for as much adventure as I can fit in. Manu National Park and the Huascarán National Park have caught my eye but doesn't make sense fitting them into my itinerary. But if one is highly recommended, I will reconsider.

mlgb

You don't want to spend time in Colca Canyon?

juancarlosvasquez

Hi Dougemac

I thing you have a good Itinerary.

Day 1: Fly into Lima
Day 2: Lima - City Tour
Day 3: Fly to Puerto Maldonado. Manu National Park Begins
Days 4-5: Manu National Park Ends - Fly to Cusco free day to acclimate.
Day 6: Cusco City Tour
Day 7: Sacred Valley Tour
Day 8-12: Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu
Day 13: Bus to Puno
Day 14: Puno Lake titicaca Tour
Day 15: Bus to Arequipa
Day 16: Arequipa City Tour
Days 17-18: Colca Canyon Mt. Misti Hike
Day 18: Bus to Nazca
Day 19: Cerro Blanco and around
Day 20: Bus to Ica, Day in hucachina, Sand Boarding Dunes
Day 21: and after: work my way back to Lima enjoying the coast along the way...

I hope this can help you!

dougemac

mlgb,
I do want to spend more time in Colca Canyon. I'm considering dropping Puno/Lake Titicaca and spending that time at Colca Canyon. What do you think? I figured Puno would have nice culture to take in but overall, it wouldn't be too exciting. Whereas Colca Canyon I can trek through and find some cool nature.

juancarlosvasquez,
I don't know how you found the time to squeeze in Manu. Is one day sufficient time to do it right? Is it worth taking three days away from other things? I do like the idea and I can extend my stay to do it right.

mlgb

The other poster has been active on one of the other travel boards promoting his agency. Not everything he has posted here works.

You are definitely underestimating travel time although you can take night buses, but they are not a good idea in the Andes.

For Colca Canyon you would want at least one overnight to do a day hike in the afternoon (one that is good is to go to Uyu Uyu from Yanque). Usually there are tour packages that include transport Puno to Chivay, time in the pm on the first day to hike, then they will bus you to and from the condor viewing point and return in time to catch the 1 pm bus to Arequipa.

You need more time if you want to hike both Misti volcano and Colca Canyon.

juancarlosvasquez

Day 1: Fly into Lima
Day 2: Lima - City Tour
Day 3: Fly Lima to Cusco - Cusco City Tour.
Day 4: Cusco Bus to TO MANU CULTURAL ZONE.
Day 5: PILCOPATA- PAITITI LODGE
Day 6: PARROTS CLAY LICK
Day 7: ATALAYA-CUSCO
Day 8: Sacred Valley Tour
Day 9-13: Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu
Day 14: Bus to Puno
Day 15: Puno Lake titicaca Tour
Day 16: Bus to Arequipa
Day 17: colca canyon
Days 18-19: Colca Canyon Mt. Misti Hike
Day 20: Bus to Nazca
Day 22: Cerro Blanco and around
Day 22: Bus to Ica, Day in hucachina, Sand Boarding Dunes
Day 23: and after: work my way back to Lima enjoying the coast along the way...

dougemac

I've revised my itinerary slightly

Day 1: Fly into Lima
Day 2: Lima
Day 3: Fly to Cusco
Days 4-5: Cusco
Days 6-10: Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu
Day 11: Bus to Colca Canyon
Day 12: Day Hike in Colca Canyon
Day 13: Bus to Arequipa
Day 14: Arequipa
Days 15-16: Mt. Misti Hike
Day 17: Bus to Nazca
Day 18: Cerro Blanco and around
Day 19: Bus to Ica
Day 20: Day in Huacachina Dunes
Day 21 and after: work my way back to Lima enjoying the coast along the way...

So I've taken out puno and lake titicaca. I figure Colca Canyon and other places will be more geared towards my interests. I'm also considering skipping one of Cerro Blanco or Huacachina Dunes since they are both sand dunes. I'm not sure which one I should go for.
Any thoughts?

mlgb

The bus to Chivay leaves from Puno, you will need to put those legs back in to the itinerary.

Are you not doing Nazca overflight?

Huacachina was fun and not expensive. Best to do it in the afternoon to watch sunset from the dunes. Can't comment re Cerro Blanco.

dougemac

Thanks mlgb! You have all the answers. I'll put Puno back in there.

I'm not planning on seeing the Nazca lines. Do you really suggest them?

mlgb

I waited until my 5th trip...but if you are unlikely to ever return on this route, probably. If it's a matter of cost you can also visit a few along the main route to Ica, there is an observation tower. Some people take the local bus (Soyuz) to Ica, get off, and then back on when they're done.

I thought seeing the network of straight lines was just as interesting as the figures. National Geographic did an article on it a few years ago, it might pique your interest.

http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/20...ca/hall-text/1

There are just so many things to see in Peru, it is hard to narrow down. Even if you added a week, there would be more to see than you'd have time.

BTW since you are flexible and using buses rather than booking flights, you don't really need to make all of your hotel reservations in advance.

What month are you planning to do this?

dougemac

I'm planning on late may, early june.

Ya I'm planning on bussing everywhere besides flying from Lima to Cusco. So the flight is the only thing that will be set in stone. For everything else, I'm allowing myself the opportunity to stay in a certain area longer than planned if I find it rewarding. But it's nice to have a loose itinerary to get an idea and not loose track of an overall timeframe. So thank you for your input.

I don't know what it is about the Nazca Lines but they don't pique my interest. But that can change at any time and with my flexible schedule, I can add it in at any time.

dwdvagamundo

Check out the Islas Ballestas and the Paracas Peninsula on the way north to Lima. One of the more interesting places I've seen if you like birds and wildlife in general.