enzian

Hi--yes, a Portie is a Portuguese Water Dog. We live on an island near Seattle, and with all the water, swimming dogs are very popular. Mizu (the Portie) is Nora's best friend. and her "parents" are OK too.

I lived a number of years in Idaho, but have only been in the Sawtooths in winter for skiing. The ranch looks lovely--don't tell me you like horses too! Our mountain week (prior to the high Sierras) will be in the Wasatch range of Utah---my sister and I have a time-share there. When I say "Utah", everyone thinks redrock or desert, but this area is green and alpine and looks like Siwtzerland without the cows and glaciers. We sleep at 8,000 feet, and hike from there to 11,000, so it's great for getting ready for real mountains.

It is indeed nice to meet you. I haven't actually talked to many women about the BC thing. My husband (who was then not yet my husband) found the lump and saved my life. I was before then already exploring the limits (ski mountaineering, etc.), but I appreciate more than most "other" (i.e., non-cancer) people can know the second chance at life. I would like to stay in touch with you about travel, etc. I think this thread is obscure enough by now that I can just give you my e-mail---it is [email protected]. Send me a message and we can talk more. And speaking of clothes. . . I am halfway through a promise (to myself) to get rid of half of mine---in favor of more trips and more love.

cmcfong

Hi. I sent you an email. Let me know if you got it.

LSC

Your thorough planning is inspiring! We went to Peru last April and I would suggest the Monasterio Hotel in Cusco. It is lovely. We stayed at the Sanctuary in MP and it was pricey. I loved being at MP in the early morning so would recommend that, where ever you stay. Unfortunately for us, it was rainy and cloudy at sunrise. The Monasterio is worth every penny. Peru is a wonderful place and my entire family enjoyed the trip.

enzian

To cmcfong----I see I misspelled it; if you type it with "alumni" instead of "alumini" it will work.

enzian

To LSC---when you say your whole family, did you have any teenagers with you? If so, what did they most enjoy? Did you go anywhere else besides Cusco and Machu Picchu?

LSC

My daughters were 14 and 13 at the time of our trip and my son was 9. They all enjoyed the trip and upon our return my son wrote several beautiful pieces at school about MP. They also all enjoyed the children in the plaza in Cusco who were constanlty trying to sell things. Some may not like that, but my kids brought coins and talked with them. While MP made a huge impression on them, each of my kids would tell you that the four days we spent in the Amazon (Manu Lodge) was their favorite part of the trip. But they really did appreciate MP. We took the train. I think the hike would be an incredible experience.

SharonNRayMc

Hi enzian. Wow!!! I wish I had trip plans layed out that far in advance. Good for you!!!

If you decide to hike the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu, you need to be part of a tour and there are limited numbers of people allowed on the trail at a time.

I can highly recommend Explorandes. http://www.explorandes.com/peru/index.php

We have used their services on two trips to Peru, 1999 & 2005.

You will find Peru is well set up to handle tourism. The route you suggest is very frequented. Lots of folks speak English.

I suggest taking the earliest flight you can sign-up for when departing from Lima to Cusco & again try for an earlish flight from Cusco back to Lima. I think this advice is especially prudent for the flight to Cusco.

And cmcfong... thanks for the suggestion to read my trip report. I noticed that you had topped it. The entire report is on WorldIsRound. Here are the links for the various sections:

Miami, Jupiter, & the Everglades (Florida) http://www.worldisround.com/articles/141804/index.html

La Paz, Tiwanaku & Valley of the Moon (Bolivia) http://www.worldisround.com/articles/141500/index.html

Oruro Carnival (Bolivia) http://www.worldisround.com/articles/141977/index.html

Sajama National Park (Bolivia) http://www.worldisround.com/articles/143197/index.html

Salar de Uyuni (Bolivia) http://worldisround.com/articles/143714/index.html

Train Graveyard - Uyuni (Bolivia) http://www.worldisround.com/articles/141742/index.html

Train Graveyard - Pulacayo (Bolivia) http://www.worldisround.com/articles/141647/index.html

Along the Road from Uyuni to Potosí (Bolivia) http://worldisround.com/articles/143868/index.html

Potosí (Bolivia) http://worldisround.com/articles/145509/index.html

Sucre (Bolivia) http://worldisround.com/articles/182068/index.html

Tarabuco (Bolivia) http://worldisround.com/articles/182063/index.html

Jatun Yampara (Bolivia) http://www.worldisround.com/articles/169005/index.html

Lake Titikaka (Bolivia) http://www.worldisround.com/articles/261030/index.html

Copacabana (Bolivia) http://www.worldisround.com/articles/261498/index.html

Along the Road - Copacabana (Bolivia) to Puno (Peru) http://www.worldisround.com/articles/261584/index.html

Cusco, Sacsayhuaman & Lima (Peru) http://www.worldisround.com/articles/270254/index.html


I also have a little guide, which I have titled, "SharonMc's Practical Travel Tips Featuring the Peruvian & Bolivian Andes" I would be happy to e-mail you a copy. You may e-mail me at SharonNRayMc at sbcglobal periodOrDot net to request a copy.

Buen viaje!
- Sharon

Philbill

We went for a wonderful trip LAX-Lima on Lan Peru (wonderful), stayed the night, Lima to Cusco, stayed, Cusco to Machu Piccu, back, M-P to Lake Titicaca.....if you want the name of the travel agency in Lima send a posting. Fabulous trip but get the luxury train to Lake Titicaca!!!!!!!!!!

annieskes2002

Good Evening!
To Enzian and CMCFong:
I have been reading your thread, and am amazed at the early planning!I am considering a trip to Peru for this June! We will likely do a 10-12 day trip as well.We will be using a tour company.I've noted the two mentioned by Enzian.I tend to be a last minute Charlie. I also saw that you are both cancer survivors. I am a double cancer survivor-breast and uterine. I love traveling, and my appreciation has only grown.I hope I have not waited too long. My last few trips have been done close to the time of travel. While it is more stressful, it ususally works out well. Reading your posts has only made me more excited about taking this adventure with my husband and daughter.Thanks for the info and pleasant repartee.

JanisL

cmcfong,
I read your post and am especially interested in this - "In Lima we had a private guide for several museums and a tour of the city. That took most of one day." I am looking for a private guide to see the same. Is this someone you would recommend?

Indefatigable

I am hoping to go to South American for a couple of weeks this summer but I am concerned about the weather. Can anyone suggest the best places to go in August. I remember traveling in July years ago and having to pack winter clothes and still being cold! In particular, I would like to visit Venezuela and the the wine country in Chile Any advice about weather and beyond will be appreciated.

drdkc

Hi! We just returned from a week in Peru. I love to do the research and planning as much as anyone, but I chose a package offered by the Orient Express hotels that is usually available thru luxurylink.com. In our package was 2 nites in Lima, 3 nights in Cuzco and a night at the Sanctuary Lodge. As we were there in late january, it was too rainy for us to try the Incan Trail (it is in fact closed all Feb due to rain, and for maintenance) All I can say is, these hotels, their level of service, and the included meals, transfers, etc, were out of this world beautiful...We had a once in a lifetime experience.

have a look at what is offered on luxurylink, I think it was a great deal..the only problem that you may have is actually waiting for the package to be offered for those dates, since your are planning so far in advance...at any rate, have fun....its worth the bother, and an incredible adventure...

cmcfong

Hi Janis and Annie,
Sorry to be so slow to respond. I have been in the Abacos for a week. Wonderful trip and lots to catch up on. My guide in Lima was arranged by Lost World Adventures, Andrew Gilchrist's firm. I do not have any direct contact information for the guide. My experience with the company was very good, but Liz who is doing the major tour of the area said she had difficulty getting quotes and information.
Enzian and I are with you, Annie. Grab for the gusto. Best wishes for your continued good health, I think attitude helps and travel helps attitude......Peace.

italingua

Hi all,

I got to your thread as I just booked a trip for my 8 year old daughter and me to go to Cuzco next month. So I'm not an early planner here, but usually am. We are doing a volunteer vacation (non-sectarian) with a local school, but have a couple days for the sacred valley and Machu Picchu, so a good chance to see a place and have my daughter interact with kids her own age. Anyway, was in Cuzco a couple years ago and offer these thoughts:

1. Inca Trail: try hard to work this into your plans. The trail is one of the best experiences of my life, and you will find out a lot about yourself, and come away with a sense of achievement. Plus, there is nothing like waiting for a pack of llama to clear the trail before you proceed, or coming up behind Machu Picchu as the sun is coming up, and an hour before anybody else is let into the park. Lastly, while most anybody can do the trip if moderately healthy, it's a good motivator to get in shape before the trip, as it does make it that much easier.

2. I could be wrong, but I thought you had to do the hike with an authorized local operator. Even if you could do it on your own, you wouldn't want to.

3. MTS, REI and Wilderness put out beautiful brochures that sit on my coffee table for months after I get them. They offer wildly expensive trips so can afford it, and for certain destinations, probably worth it. However, for the Inca Trail, I'm dubious, because of the fact that: 1) you are camping after all - how luxurious can they make that? It's not an African safari after all, and the government strictly regulates the amount of weight each porter can carry, so I don't think the fine silver will make the cut; 2) it will be a local operator, not MTS that does the tour.

I used GAP Adventures in Canada for my tour, which included the sacred valley, etc., for a third of the others, and I don't think I missed out on much.

4. When in Cuzco, consider staying at a more modest family run hotel, and saving the difference (for say a massage after the hike) or donating it to a local charity. I'm all for treating vacations as luxury items, but in some places it doesn't feel appropriate, and this is one of them, at least for me (or any place where your hotel night is more than many people's annual income).

5. If the above point is too preachy, please disregard, but do consider the other points: the Inca Trail is a great, once in a lifetime adventure for many, and not easily duplicated by rolling up to the front door in a train. One more thing: if you do the trail, give yourself an extra day or two in Cuzco before striking out. Given the things altitude can do to your body, you'll be happy you did.

Philbill

Acclimating to the altitude is a must. We went on to Lake Titicaca and if you can fit that in it would be a highlight. For another perspective of the Inca Trail, we talked to two people in thier early 20s and two around 60 and they found it extremely difficult and would never recommend the experience to others. I haven't done it, so this is not my viewpoint. They looked haggard as they finished the 4 day trek. We stayed at a small hotel in Lima which was about $60 max including free pick-up at the airport when we got into Lima from LAX at midnight. I think it was the San Antonio Abad or some such name. I would have to look it up. We stayed overnight (such as it was!!!) and got the morning Lan Peru plane to Cusco. When we returned to Lima we stayed at the Melia. Fabulous and very reasonable. We really like that chain and just stayed in one in Seville. The location isn't exactly central, but since cabs cost a dollar or two wherever you go, it was fine.
Happy Planning!!

LieslKaruna

I went in April of 2003. I stayed at the Hotel Ruinas (three min walk from Plaza de Armas in Cusco) it was clean, well maintained and had oxygen tanks (be careful of the accilimatization of the air) its quite normal to have soroche so drink mate de coca when you have a chance, And don't be afraid to try cuy (guinea pig or alpaca both are quite tasty!!!)
I was angry about ice cream prices they charged 2 soles for locals and three soles for ice cream.
but you cant do anything about it

maracuya ice (passionfruit was my favorite)

quimbymoy

hello,

saw your post and impressed with your planning! i am off to peru tomorrow! we are going for 14 days (SV-MP-Cuzco-Manu-Lake Titicaca-LaPaz).

i got quotes from both US agencies (including lost world) and local travel companies and ended up booking thru 3 local agencies. it's worked out pretty well so far, i'll be sure to post when i get back. thanks for all the tips everyone!

jdbird

My sister and I stayed at the Sanctuary Lodge in 2004. It was very nice, but the food was disappointing. My sister became very ill and blames the food she ate for dinner at the Lodge

psych

In Cusco, we stayed at Torreo Dorada Residencia. It was TREMENDOUS! They really understood serivce in a way that many do not. My travelling partner was recovering from cancer, and they were ENORMOUSLY helpful in addressing health, travel, educational, issues, etc., etc. They helped us get a fabulous personal guide (only about $20/day, two or three years ago), who helped us with ALL of our questions--historical, archeological, flora and fauna, birding, etc. Peggy and her staff were one of the highlights of our stay in Cusco.

Staying at the Sanctuary in MP was remarkable, not least because it afforded us the opportunity to be on the grounds without even being able to see another person--pretty remarkable up there. I've never spent that much on a hotel room, but in this case I'd easily do it again.

enzian

Thank you all for your comments so far.

There seem to be very divergent opinions on two things---the Sanctuary Lodge, and the Inca Trail. I'd love to hear more about both. Our initial inclination was definitely to hike the Inca Trail---fitness is not a problem, although I am a bit concerned about the altitude. But there have been both positive and negative comments.

Philbill, if you are here---do you think that the people you talked to just found the hike too strenuous? In other words, were they not prepared, physically? Or was there more wrong than that? I thought I read someplace that 500 people a day start out on the trail. Even with permits and guides, how do they manage hygiene and camping facilities for everyone? And how is all the gear transported? I am not comfortable having other people carry my stuff---it seems somehow demeaning to them. Llamas would be fine, though.

As for the Sanctuary, the only reason we might want to stay there would be to see the ruins in the early light. If we could do that by taking the first bus---or better yet, by walking, if that is possible, that would be fine. I vaguely recall seeing mention of a trail from Aguas Calientes to the ruins, with a hiking time of about an hour. Does anyone know if this exists?

As for staying at the Pueblo in Aguas Calientes, how far ahead is it necessary to book for a June or July (prime time, I assume) stay?