I saw that you are planning a trip to MP. We hope to go in 09 , if not in 10 for sure. Any info would be great if you could pass it on.
Are you going solo? Group? Using a Guide? Making all of your own arrangements or using a travel agent? Appreciate any info that you are willing to pass on. Thanks!! Toni

Hi Toni,

I am indeed planning a trip to MP! It's actually getting very close as I leave for Peru on November 1st.

I'd be happy to share an overview of what we've got planned, and you can ask any specific questions you have...

I'm traveling with a couple of friends and we've made most of our own arrangements. We will be traveling independently; not with a tour group. We did enlist a travel agent for help with a couple of hotels (www.enjoyperu.com).

Our itinerary includes 3 days in the Sacred Valley (staying in Ollantaytambo), 1 day at Machu Picchu, and 3 days in Cusco, with 2 international travel days bookending the trip.

We basically have our reservations made for hotels, MP train tickets, and domestic airfare from Lima to Cusco. The one thing we are still debating is whether to rent a car, hire a driver/guide, or just use taxis and buses. We are leaning towards a car for the Sacred Valley days, and would return it before our 3 days in Cusco. It sounds like most people don't drive in Peru, but I've read a couple of trip reports where people did drive themselves around the Sacred Valley and really enjoyed it.

Making the arrangements has been a bit of a challenge. As with Costa Rica, there's frequently a lag time with email correspondence. The language barrier also seems just a bit more pronounced to me, although not insurmountable by any means.

I'm planning to write a trip report when I return, and will post a link to my photos just as I've done with the CR trips.

Let me know what additional info you're looking for and I'll answer your questions if I can...

Thanks so much! We have not done any type of group travel before and don't think it's for us. But it seems a little daunting to me to start from scratch. I have looked at numerous web sites and after a while I am still not sure where to satrt. I will wait (anxiously) for your report and pics.

I think we will be able to use FF miles, that will help a lot. I keep lusting after the Inkaterra Hotel, but it's about 800USD a night!

Did the travel agent help you w/the train tix..or did you do that via email?

Are you going to use Diamox? Or lots of coca tea?

Thanks again and I will be looking forward to your report!
My dream would be 2 weeks in CR and MP all in one year. Lottery maybe?? hahaah Toni

I hear you on the Inkaterra hotel. We toyed with the idea of one night there and then sanity was restored once we realized just how much that would skew our budget for the trip! ;-)

I plan to take along a diamox prescription just in case, but will only use it if I need to. We will save Cusco (with the highest elevation) for the end of our trip, and hopefully will be able to acclimate okay in the lower altitude of the Sacred Valley. I currently live in flat, barely-above-sea-level Florida, so wish me luck!

We did <i>eventually</i> line our MP train tickets up via emailing the Perurail website, but it took a while to get the correspondence going. I would recommend you start early on making your arrangements once you know when you'll be visiting (especially if you visit during summer; their high seaon).

I would have loved to add an extra week on to this trip to spend a few days in the jungle and a few in Arequipa/Colca Canyon, but we had to work around 3 different schedules and budgets. Ultimately I'm very happy and excited for what we've settled on.

I hope you get to do both CR and Peru in the same year. I know I've been in CR withdrawls this year! I've got my sights set on that GTG with shillmac, tully and Hip next June. I could definitely use a BdC fix!

Yeah!

Thanks for the great info, I had not seen the web site you sent me before. My Peru/MP computer folder is filling up.

Last night I said to hubby, Hey, how about I go to the GTG (w/our 2 adult daughters ) at BdC and you come later with our 6 year old Grandson. He did not count it out.

But as you know, that darn &quot;B&quot; word.... budget. We'll see.

Again thanks and I will be looking for your report.