Simondubz

Hi guys

We are going to peru for 2 weeks and gave put together the following itinerary. If we could have your comments on how realistic you think it is in the timescale or if there is a better route or swapping in or out any sights.

Day 1 - arrive in Lima @ 9:00pm so stop over
Day 2 - Lima am bus to Cusco via Cuz del Sur @ 17:30
Day 3 - arrive in Cusco at 14:00 approx
Day 4 - Sacred Valley & Olly....
Day 5 - Cusco am & then Cusco to AC via train - get tickets for Machu Piccu
Day 6 - Machu Piccu & back to Cusco via train
Day 7 -  Cusco to Puno via Inka Express
Day 8 - Lake Titicaca
Day 9 - Puno to Arequipa
Day 10 - Colca Canyon
Day 11 - Colca Canyon
Day 12 - Arequipa or head back to Lima?
Day 13- Arequipa to Lima
Day 14 - Lima - Evening Flight @ 21:50 to Rio where will spend week resting!!

If there are still problems at Puno:

Day 7 - Cusco to Arequipa
Day 8 - Colca Canyon
Day 9 - Colca Canyon
Day 10 - Arequipa
Day 11 - Arequipa to Ica/Huacachina
Day 12 - Sandboarding
Day 13 Ica to Lima
Day 14 - Lima - Evening Flight @ 21:50 to Rio where will spend week resting!!

If you go to olly.... and get the train there to AC this seems much cheaper but is it realistic in our timecale?

Any recommendations on hostels, bus or tour companies also much appreciated.

Thanks

Simon & Mila

qwovadis

If you go direct from Lima Cusco (11000 ft) right away

by bus odds a long rough slog have done it extremely unfun

(fly if you must www.peruvianairlines.com.pe)

Most follow the gringo trail breaking up their journey to

adjust to altitude and see more...

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

Do the downstairs VIP seats biggest best less theft risk

rock and roll than upstairs extremely cramped crowded.

My route Lima Paracas Nasca Arequipa Colca-lodge.com

4m-express.com titicacaperu.com inkaexpress.com to Cusco

well adjusted visit SV MP fly back

casa-andina.com libertador.com.pe and inkaterra.com

best hotels... also easy to hire driver/guides from

$50/half day not much more than bus

then head to Rio for chillaxin have fun

insuremytrip.com travel.state.gov mdtravelhealth.com

for altitude illness issues...

qwovadis

You can get sick with rapid ascent by bus or plane from sea level take a preventive like Diamox if u must do it this way
which I would not.

Trav_Eller

Just one suggestion. Consider reversing your itinerary. I did it from the other direction, which gave me two days and a night in Arequipa to start getting used to altitude, then Colca Canyon on the way to Puno and then Cusco.


Day 1 - arrive in Lima @ 9:00pm so stop over
Day 2 - Lima am bus to Nazca via Cuz del Sur; fly over lines in the early afternoon; have a relaxed dinner and take the night bus to Arequipa arriving in the early morning of:
Day 3 - See Arequipa
Day 4 - To Colca Canyon, stay overnight.
Day 5 - See the Canyon in the am; 4M bus to Puno in the PM
Day 6 - See Lake Titicaca and Reed islands
Day 7 - Fly or train to Cusco
Day 8 - Sacred Valley & Olly....
Cusco am & then Cusco to AC via train - get tickets for Machu Piccu
Day 9 - Machu Piccu & back to Cusco via train
Day 10 - Cusco to Lima in the am Lima - Evening Flight @ 21:50 to Rio where will spend week resting!!

I've made that four days shorter so you could insert the extra time wherever you wished. I'd suggest in Arequipa and Cusco rather than Lima, but that's up to you.

I did almost exactly that last year. Begin here: http://loraltravel.blogspot.com/2010/03/lima-peru.html

Cheers, Alan, Australia

mlgb

FLY Lima to Cusco on Star Peru or Peruvian Airlines. Takes an hour not two days. Go to the Sacred Valley for the first few days altitude much less of a problem below 9,000 feet.