Traveling in Peru
Dec 14th, 2010, 10:02 AM
#1
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Traveling in Peru
Hello, traveling to Peru April 10th-April 17th. Want to stay in Lima until the 13th, then fly out to Cuszco and start exploring there and in the surrounding areas including Machu Picchu.
It's two only two of us, want to hire a private tour-guide to explore the area, especially Machu Picchu. Or is it very easy to get around and explore by ourselves?
Any suggestions?
It's two only two of us, want to hire a private tour-guide to explore the area, especially Machu Picchu. Or is it very easy to get around and explore by ourselves?
Any suggestions?
Dec 14th, 2010, 06:49 PM
#2
I would reverse the order, unless you have a special reason for starting in Lima. Sacred Valley-Machu Picchu-Cusco-Lima. That way you have a few days leeway if something like a strike or cancelled flight happens, which it often does.
There are lots of trip reports here. It is easy to travel without using an agent. You can book your internal flights, train to Machu Picchu and hotels by email. Hotels can arrange taxis or tours to take you to sites. You can hire a guide at the entrance to MP, or ask the hotel to set one up for you.
There are lots of trip reports here. It is easy to travel without using an agent. You can book your internal flights, train to Machu Picchu and hotels by email. Hotels can arrange taxis or tours to take you to sites. You can hire a guide at the entrance to MP, or ask the hotel to set one up for you.
Dec 14th, 2010, 06:52 PM
#3
www.andeantravelweb.com is a good website with lots of info.
www.perurail.com for the train (better to do this from Ollantaytambo btw).
See if you can add your domestic leg to Cusco onto your international ticket. If it's less than $150 more it's a good deal. Or you can book one of the alternative airlines such as taca.com, starperu.com. LAN is good but a big ripoff to non-residents for the domestic airfares.
www.perurail.com for the train (better to do this from Ollantaytambo btw).
See if you can add your domestic leg to Cusco onto your international ticket. If it's less than $150 more it's a good deal. Or you can book one of the alternative airlines such as taca.com, starperu.com. LAN is good but a big ripoff to non-residents for the domestic airfares.
Dec 15th, 2010, 02:03 AM
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I thought Peru was one of the easier countries to travel in independently. I agree that you may not want to fly to Lima (sea level) wait for a couple of days and then go to the highest point of the trip (Cusco). Altitude sickness and all that. We put Cusco and then Lima at the tail of the trip.
The train is the only way to go to Machu Picchu town (aka Aguas Calientes) other than hiking the Inca Trail and you can book that with mlgb's Perurail link the same as an agent or guide can. Ollantaytambo is the start point for most of the trains and is a very interesting, intact Incan town besides. We stayed there for several days and thought it was a good decision.
We did buy our tix from Cusco to Lima separate from our international flights and found Taca flights for $60 each, all in. Could be different now, of course. We'd flown Lan into Peru, but I'd say Taca was of equal quality... and head and shoulders over a typical domestic US flight.
The train is the only way to go to Machu Picchu town (aka Aguas Calientes) other than hiking the Inca Trail and you can book that with mlgb's Perurail link the same as an agent or guide can. Ollantaytambo is the start point for most of the trains and is a very interesting, intact Incan town besides. We stayed there for several days and thought it was a good decision.
We did buy our tix from Cusco to Lima separate from our international flights and found Taca flights for $60 each, all in. Could be different now, of course. We'd flown Lan into Peru, but I'd say Taca was of equal quality... and head and shoulders over a typical domestic US flight.
Dec 15th, 2010, 03:05 AM
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to see more and adjust to altitude better
self-giide the Gringo Trail to MP
adventures.worldnomads.com/destination/168/itinerary/23.aspx
Easy to self guide www.apulodge.com in www.ollantaytambo.org
can help you coordinate your MP visit by train.
Usually head there by cab when I fly in $25
visit MP then back up to Cusco 11000 ft AFTER
I have adjusted to the altitude.
www.taca.com www.peruvianairlines.pe www.starperu.com
all better than tourist rip off LAN in Peru
due to the $1178.50 non resident surcharge they do.
Happy Hunting,
self-giide the Gringo Trail to MP
adventures.worldnomads.com/destination/168/itinerary/23.aspx
Easy to self guide www.apulodge.com in www.ollantaytambo.org
can help you coordinate your MP visit by train.
Usually head there by cab when I fly in $25
visit MP then back up to Cusco 11000 ft AFTER
I have adjusted to the altitude.
www.taca.com www.peruvianairlines.pe www.starperu.com
all better than tourist rip off LAN in Peru
due to the $1178.50 non resident surcharge they do.
Happy Hunting,
Dec 15th, 2010, 04:43 AM
#7
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Guys, this is extremely helpful, thank you so much for all the info.
Found a flight from Lima to Cuzsco for 290 for 2 on StarPeru, i assume its good.
So from you comments i see there is basically nothing to do in Lima and i should stay there about a day to acclimate and then fly out to Cuzsco . So now i have 6 days in Cuzsco, what are your suggestions? My wife is a bit of a puss when it comes to extreme adventures and gets out of breath rather quickly but all is substituted by a desire to see and learn. Thats why we need to do things with a private guide or by ourselves. We also do not speak Spanish, would it be hard to communicate?
Found a flight from Lima to Cuzsco for 290 for 2 on StarPeru, i assume its good.
So from you comments i see there is basically nothing to do in Lima and i should stay there about a day to acclimate and then fly out to Cuzsco . So now i have 6 days in Cuzsco, what are your suggestions? My wife is a bit of a puss when it comes to extreme adventures and gets out of breath rather quickly but all is substituted by a desire to see and learn. Thats why we need to do things with a private guide or by ourselves. We also do not speak Spanish, would it be hard to communicate?
Dec 15th, 2010, 08:14 AM
#8
No you are misinterpreting what we said, no one said not to see Lima, you should see Lima, but put it AT THE END of the trip, not the beginning. I love Lima, great for eating, shopping, museums. I could spend two weeks there easily! But it is better to save it for the end for a number of reasons.
In the airports and hotels as well as the guides at major sites such as MP you will find someone who speaks English, although perhaps with an accent. It is always a good idea to learn a few basic travel phrases and numbers, bring an English/Spanish phrasebook that can be used by someone on either side of the language.
If your wife has breathing issues I hope you have discussed traveling to the Andes with her physician. It is even more important that you not spend the first few nights in Cusco but rather lower down in the Sacred Valley.
In the airports and hotels as well as the guides at major sites such as MP you will find someone who speaks English, although perhaps with an accent. It is always a good idea to learn a few basic travel phrases and numbers, bring an English/Spanish phrasebook that can be used by someone on either side of the language.
If your wife has breathing issues I hope you have discussed traveling to the Andes with her physician. It is even more important that you not spend the first few nights in Cusco but rather lower down in the Sacred Valley.
Dec 15th, 2010, 12:35 PM
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Yes, I also was not dissing Lima. I think it's an underrated city and it's a shame more people breeze through it. It's just possibly a very bad place to go immediately BEFORE going to 3300 meters. You're maximizing the difference between two places.
Lima's a great place to go immediately AFTER. In fact, if you have a couple of days scheduled and things go badly, altitude-wise, in Cusco, having plans to be in Lima anyway may give you a place to start to early IF you needed it. The only sure cure to <u>severe altitude problems, should they arise, is to go down. A lot. Not saying nausea or being dizzy or short of breath, but severe reactions - which can and do happen in anyone, of any age and any level of health. So our Lima plans were also our safety outlet. (we had our small daughter with us). And even though we went to Arequipa first, overland to the SV & MP and THEN Cusco... it *still* got me a little bit! Not enough to worry over, but staircases sure got a lot more imposing. I was fine in the SV.
Lima's Historic Center's impressive, go down and see the parasailing on the shore, see Love Park. I really like wandering the Miraflores area where we stayed.
Lima's a great place to go immediately AFTER. In fact, if you have a couple of days scheduled and things go badly, altitude-wise, in Cusco, having plans to be in Lima anyway may give you a place to start to early IF you needed it. The only sure cure to <u>severe altitude problems, should they arise, is to go down. A lot. Not saying nausea or being dizzy or short of breath, but severe reactions - which can and do happen in anyone, of any age and any level of health. So our Lima plans were also our safety outlet. (we had our small daughter with us). And even though we went to Arequipa first, overland to the SV & MP and THEN Cusco... it *still* got me a little bit! Not enough to worry over, but staircases sure got a lot more imposing. I was fine in the SV.
Lima's Historic Center's impressive, go down and see the parasailing on the shore, see Love Park. I really like wandering the Miraflores area where we stayed.
Dec 16th, 2010, 02:21 PM
#11
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Good enough, i checked on private tours and although the itineraries are amazing it's way over my budget.
i will try to hire a private tour guide for a day in Sacred Valley and for a day in Machu Picchu. Recommendations would be extremely welcome.
i will try to hire a private tour guide for a day in Sacred Valley and for a day in Machu Picchu. Recommendations would be extremely welcome.
Jan 1st, 2011, 03:43 PM
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I just went to Peru in November and had 13 days in the country. For what it's worth, I allocated 1.5 days to Lima and thought it was one day too many. While the restaurants were great, I was bored after 2 hours of sightseeing, and found the city polluted and lacking in charm. (There are many polluted cities that I've loved and found beautiful--from Beijing to Cairo to Bangkok to even Guayaquil--but Lima jut wasn't one of them. After the 2 hours of sightseeing and lunch at Pescados Capitales, I spent the remainder of the time regretting that we hadn't allocated more time in Cusco instead of the time in Lima. I found the entire city of Cusco to be beautiful and charming, and the so-called advantages of Lima are the restaurants, shops and museums, and I actually preferred all of these much more in Cusco than Lima. If you want to add another Peruvian city to your trip to get a better sense of the country, I recommend Arequipa over Lima.
To answer your other questions, no you don't have to speak Spanish to get around Peru. And it's a perfectly easy area to explore on your own. Just bring a good guide book and you're fine.
The itinerary of Sacred Valley, MP, Cusco is perfect to minimize the likelihood of altitude sickness. Due to your wife's health, add a few extra days to the Sacred Valley just in case since it is the lowest altitude and take it easy the first day. Relax at your hotel, get a massage, etc.
As for a private guide/driver, I highly recommend Percy. He was highly recommended on many forums and I understand why - he's great! Here is his email: [email protected]. He was really professional, amiable, knowledgeable, and spoke English excellently. And his rates were competitive with others we were quoted. And he knew the country well and was good at taking us to "off the beaten path" suggestions and really was able to evaluate our interests well and pace the trip accordingly.
To answer your other questions, no you don't have to speak Spanish to get around Peru. And it's a perfectly easy area to explore on your own. Just bring a good guide book and you're fine.
The itinerary of Sacred Valley, MP, Cusco is perfect to minimize the likelihood of altitude sickness. Due to your wife's health, add a few extra days to the Sacred Valley just in case since it is the lowest altitude and take it easy the first day. Relax at your hotel, get a massage, etc.
As for a private guide/driver, I highly recommend Percy. He was highly recommended on many forums and I understand why - he's great! Here is his email: [email protected]. He was really professional, amiable, knowledgeable, and spoke English excellently. And his rates were competitive with others we were quoted. And he knew the country well and was good at taking us to "off the beaten path" suggestions and really was able to evaluate our interests well and pace the trip accordingly.
Jan 1st, 2011, 09:07 PM
#15
My favorite things to do in Lima
Historic Plaza de Armas (World Heritage Site), you can include visits to some of the buildigs there
Historic churches around Jiron de la Union and Plaza de Armas
Rafael de Larco Museum
Barranco and Pedro de Osma Museum
One of the Huacas
Plaza de Amour
Mirabus nightime tour
Of course eating
Things not to do: For me, Miraflores and Larcomar Mall are not big priorities
Historic Plaza de Armas (World Heritage Site), you can include visits to some of the buildigs there
Historic churches around Jiron de la Union and Plaza de Armas
Rafael de Larco Museum
Barranco and Pedro de Osma Museum
One of the Huacas
Plaza de Amour
Mirabus nightime tour
Of course eating
Things not to do: For me, Miraflores and Larcomar Mall are not big priorities
Jan 2nd, 2011, 12:38 PM
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Hey! i just read your post and wanted to actually answer your main question. Go to this website http://www.cuscoguides.com/ingles/the-guides.htm and contact any of these tour guides directly. Most tour guides are as capable and efficient as any tour company to take you anywhere you want. the best part of this is that they actually treat the people that work with them better than other tour companies that some folks "highly recommend" in this forum. I am planning my second trip to Peru and in doing some research i ran into this site.
