hotsauce

I'm planning a trip to Peru and Chile, late October / early November. So far we are staying 2 days and 2 nights in Lima, 2 nights in Olly, 1 night in Agua Calientes and 3 nights in Cuzco.
After that we have 4 more nights in Peru. The Hubster is not interested in a jungle trip and we have pretty much decided against Lake Titicaca. Apparently there's a large festival in Puno that week, which could be fun but wonder if anyone will be around to take us to the islands, and if anyone will even be on the islands, or if everyone will be at the festival!? We are interested in going to Arequipa, maybe to just hang out and enjoy the city, possibly to do Colca. We also thought Cajamarca sounded interesting even though it is way north. I also wonder if I'm giving Cusco enough time, there's a part of me that just loves to hang out in a place and get to know it. Another question: We have a 1:00 p.m. flight to Chile to catch on our last day, if we were able to get an early morning flight out of wherever we decide to go, do you think that leaves us enough time or is it best to spend the last night in Lima? Please , I need your advice.

mlgb

It is always a good idea to go back to Lima the day before.

There are no direct flights Cusco to Arequipa. Almost all go via Lima. LAN has one to Juliaca.

I think I might bus or fly to Puno (1 night)
Bus Puno to Chivay/Colca Canyon) (1 night)
Bus Chivay to AQP (1 night)
Next day fly AQP to Lima

Or fly to Lima and take a tour to Paracas or to Nazca.

I'm sure there will be people on the Uros Islands. And probably the others.

Email Allways Travel and ask.

crellston

We loved both Arequipa and Puno/Titicaca and both places were hosting large festivals when we visited. Far from detracting from our time in these places, the festivals really made it for us. We spent hours watching the processions, listening to the music and just absorbing the great atmosphere. You won't have a problem getting boats out to Uros as there are too many to count. I would find int difficult to choose between the two (any chance you could squeeze in both?
A link to some of our photos of both places :

http://blog.travelpod.com/travel-blo...ai/1/tpod.html

entries 62-64 cover Arequipa and Puno - don't miss Santa Catalina convent.

qwovadis

colca-lodge.com our fav

and/or

Ballestas/Ica/Nasca Lines

mysteryperu.com largest GeoGlyphs in the world truly amazing.

Good luck!

waylluy

If you didn't already book your domestic flights I recommend the following.
day 1 - early flight to Arequipa - do city tour spend night
day 2 - Colca Canyon
day 3 - Colca Canyon
day 4 - early bus to Cusco or fly
day 5 - Cusco - do city tour and spend night
day 6 - Sacred Valley tour of Pisac market/ruins, Chinchero, Olly and take later train to AC and spend night
day 7 - MP/HP and take later train to Olly and spend night there
day 7 - From Olly visit moray maras/salineras and return to Cusco for night
day 8 - early flight to Lima and do a city tour
day 9 - Lima and take flight to Chile

waylluy

oops day 7 twice it should be
day 8 - From Olly visit moray maras/salineras and return to Cusco for night
day 9 - early flight to Lima and do a city tour
day 10 - Lima and take flight to Chile

yestravel

I liked Arequipa a lot and thought Colca Canyon definitely worth seeing. We did a 2 day 1 night tour that we booked thru our hotel and it was interesting with beautiful scenery...one could say breathtaking given the altitude.

hotsauce

Thanks to all of you for all the great ideas. I've been letting them just sort of settle on my mind. If I decide to go to Lake Titicaca and have no plans to do a home stay,would there be any reason to spend more than 2 nights?

eenusa

We did not do a homestay, so we found two nights sufficient:

On day of arrival, after checking into the hotel, we did a private tour of sites of interest around the Puno area.

http://2totravelperu.blogspot.com/20...ramu-muru.html
http://2totravelperu.blogspot.com/20...-inca-uyo.html
http://2totravelperu.blogspot.com/20...l-history.html

The next day, we did the Islas Flotantes and Taquile Island.

http://2totravelperu.blogspot.com/20...-los-uros.html
http://2totravelperu.blogspot.com/20...a-taquile.html
http://2totravelperu.blogspot.com/20...ds-part-2.html

The next day, on our way back to the Juliaca Airport:

http://2totravelperu.blogspot.com/20...t-of-puno.html
http://2totravelperu.blogspot.com/20...illustani.html
http://2totravelperu.blogspot.com/20...igh-andes.html

While we did pack a lot into our three days in the area, the pace was not rushed ... a good thing when you're at 14,000 feet.

Have a terrific time in Peru.

crellston

2 nights is plenty for Puno. A days excursion onto the lake will provide plenty of time to cruise the lake, visit the floating islands of Uros (interesting if a little too much like a theme park)and hike around Tacquile. All easily arrange with any operator in town. The journeys from Arequipa-Puno and Arequipa Cusco are spectacular and it is worth checking out the Inka Express co. to Cusco as they stop at lots of interesting place on the altiplano en route

DJCat

bookmarking

hotsauce

I want to thank all of you again for your feedback. I have really enjoyed the photos and blogs as well. I had to back off for awhile and work on the Chile portion of our journey. I'm still very torn between Arequipa and Lake Titicaca, but leaning a bit more towards the lake currently. Have been looking into using the Lan South American Air Pass, which sounds like a good deal for us. Called Lan and was told that if I make sure to book on the U.S.A. page there will be no outstanding fees. Does that sound right? How far ahead should I book my domestic flights? Do I really have to spend the night before departure in Lima? Our flight leaves at 1:00 p.m. and if that's cutting it too close,we'll stay in Lima the night before. I'm way too excited and we don't leave until late October!!

Elizabeth_S

hotsauce - I would post your LAN airpass questions on Flyertalk.com - posters are so knowledgeable there - here's the LAN page

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/lan-lanpass-689/

geetika

If your flight out of Lima is at 1pm IMO you absolutely should get there the previous evening at least. And the festival will only add to the Puno experience, so don't let that be a deterrant.

mlgb

Definitely return to Lima the day before a 1 pm flight!

mlgb

Photos in and around Colca Canyon and from the bus (Aqp to Chivay and Chivay to Puno). I recommend the new 4-M service if you bus Puno to Chivay (they also go direct between Puno/AQP)

http://picasaweb.google.com/kiwifann/ColcaCanyon

4-M
http://www.4m-express.com/

(I just reserved the day prior using travel agent/hotel. Most agencies will be able to tack 4-M onto a Colca Canyon tour if you are going one way Puno-Chivay-AQP.)

GMBC

Don´t miss the gastronomic experience in Lima! My personal suggestion is to visit "Restaurante Manifiesto"... take a look here: http://www.manifiesto.pe/en/home.

ncounty

Yes, return to Lima the day before....and have a great meal. I loved the 2 day homestay on Lake Titicaca.