Our report from 1 week exploring Cusco, Sacred Valley & Machu Picchu
Jan 24th, 2008, 02:09 PM
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Tatersalad, I have the exact question. Hoping to buy the Boleto Turisto ticket in Pisac.
PlanningPeru, our itinerary is almost exactly the same as yours. Very few people stay in Pisac, but I would like to spend our first night there after Lima. Comments from those who have done this. Was planning Pisac (1), Ollanta (2), Cusco (2), Puno (2) and 2 in Lima from where we'll do the day flight from Lima over the Nasca Lines. I chose the above because of altitude heights. Appreciate any comments on the Royal Inka in Pisac. JM
PlanningPeru, our itinerary is almost exactly the same as yours. Very few people stay in Pisac, but I would like to spend our first night there after Lima. Comments from those who have done this. Was planning Pisac (1), Ollanta (2), Cusco (2), Puno (2) and 2 in Lima from where we'll do the day flight from Lima over the Nasca Lines. I chose the above because of altitude heights. Appreciate any comments on the Royal Inka in Pisac. JM
Jan 24th, 2008, 04:04 PM
#42
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Your report is very good..i must say..We did basically the same trip last year, only we added in the Amazon for 3 nights and we took a small group tour.
I love your website as well, i see u made it one the Mac, do mind if i ask what program u used??
I love your website as well, i see u made it one the Mac, do mind if i ask what program u used??
Jan 24th, 2008, 04:48 PM
#43
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Hi PlanningPeru!
Glad you found my review helpful!
As for your itinerary, I think it sounds pretty good.
However, I personally think trying to squeeze in Pisac on day 1 would make you feel too rushed once you got to Ollanta.
I'd stick with days 1 through 3 the way you have them.
You might find that you won't need that extra 1/2 day at MP and you could get an earlier start off to Pisac.
Keep in mind that you will have to buy another ticket at full price for MP.
As for Pisac, even if you keep the 1/2 day at MP, that still sounds like plenty of time in Pisac.
We only spent a few hours in Pisac, but admittedly only saw one area of the ruins. That was a good amount for us.
And we found the ruins at Ollanta even more impressive.
The only thing I think is that you might want to spend more time in Cusco. There is alot to see and it is such a lively city!
Also, you should try to make time to get up to Sacsayhuaman (just up the road from Cusco).
So, if it were us, I'd skip the 1/2 day at MP, leave AC in the morning and head to Pisac and make our way to Cusco all on day 4, then spend days 5 & 6 in Cusco.
But, that's just me.
You do have a great sounding itinerary.
Whatever you do, you'll enjoy yourself.
Peru is an amazing destination!
Good luck and happy, safe travels!
>-
Glad you found my review helpful!
As for your itinerary, I think it sounds pretty good.
However, I personally think trying to squeeze in Pisac on day 1 would make you feel too rushed once you got to Ollanta.
I'd stick with days 1 through 3 the way you have them.
You might find that you won't need that extra 1/2 day at MP and you could get an earlier start off to Pisac.
Keep in mind that you will have to buy another ticket at full price for MP.
As for Pisac, even if you keep the 1/2 day at MP, that still sounds like plenty of time in Pisac.
We only spent a few hours in Pisac, but admittedly only saw one area of the ruins. That was a good amount for us.
And we found the ruins at Ollanta even more impressive.
The only thing I think is that you might want to spend more time in Cusco. There is alot to see and it is such a lively city!
Also, you should try to make time to get up to Sacsayhuaman (just up the road from Cusco).
So, if it were us, I'd skip the 1/2 day at MP, leave AC in the morning and head to Pisac and make our way to Cusco all on day 4, then spend days 5 & 6 in Cusco.
But, that's just me.
You do have a great sounding itinerary.
Whatever you do, you'll enjoy yourself.
Peru is an amazing destination!
Good luck and happy, safe travels!
>-
Jan 24th, 2008, 06:22 PM
#44
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Hamburger,
Your itinerary sounds great...you've allowed lots of time in each area which should make for a nice pace and a great trip!
I can't help much with the Winay Wayna question.
But as for all that hiking AND "seeing" the ruins...we hiked just Huayna Picchu, then did the ruins and by 3:00 our legs were like jelly from all those stairs (there are tons of stairs!!)
Not sure about dressing for June, maybe someone else can help?
Good luck and ENJOY!!!
TracyB,
Thanks for the feedback!
The Mac makes it so easy to do that website. There's a program that comes with all the newer Macs called iWeb.
Sure wish we could've fit in some time in the Amazon, but we only had one week. I bet that was amazing!
Thanks again.
>-
Lisa
Your itinerary sounds great...you've allowed lots of time in each area which should make for a nice pace and a great trip!
I can't help much with the Winay Wayna question.
But as for all that hiking AND "seeing" the ruins...we hiked just Huayna Picchu, then did the ruins and by 3:00 our legs were like jelly from all those stairs (there are tons of stairs!!)
Not sure about dressing for June, maybe someone else can help?
Good luck and ENJOY!!!
TracyB,
Thanks for the feedback!
The Mac makes it so easy to do that website. There's a program that comes with all the newer Macs called iWeb.
Sure wish we could've fit in some time in the Amazon, but we only had one week. I bet that was amazing!
Thanks again.
>-Lisa
Jan 25th, 2008, 06:43 AM
#46
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Hi again!
So funny that you mention Africa...
We ARE actually going to Africa in September, but to Kenya, Tanzania & Rwanda!!!
South Africa/Botswana is definitely on the list! But that'll have to be another trip
So funny that you mention Africa...
We ARE actually going to Africa in September, but to Kenya, Tanzania & Rwanda!!!
South Africa/Botswana is definitely on the list! But that'll have to be another trip
Feb 10th, 2008, 06:16 AM
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Hi luv2globetrot! Your posting and the photos were fabulous and very inspiring! Our family with 12 and 16 yr olds will be traveling to MP in mid June and hope to replicate much of your itinerary. Do you speak Spanish or were you able to get around without?
Feb 10th, 2008, 05:04 PM
#49
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Hello venturesome4 and thanks!
Glad you liked my photos and trip report!!
By no means would I say that either my husband or I speak Spanish, but this was our 4th trip to a Latin American country, so by now we have picked up just enough of the basics to get by. My husband also took Spanish in high school, but that was lo, so many years ago
Even on our first trip we really never considered the language barrier much of a problem.
No matter which foreign country we travel to, we always try to learn at least the basics (hello, goodbye, please, thank you, excuse me, where are the bathrooms?, etc, etc).
Bring a phrasebook with you and practice on the plane ride over at the very least.
You will surely also find people who speak English...and if not, trying to communicate via charades is always fun
The Czech Republic and Greece were two of our more challenging destinations for language but we always look at it as part of the experience and part of the joy of traveling! How boring would it be to travel the world and hear people that sound just like us?
Don't worry...you will have a great time in Peru...it is an amazing place!
Jacqueline,
We rented the car over the internet before the trip. I really don't know how different the price would have been had we just walked into the Hertz to rent it.
We were happy with them and we got a very nice, clean car!
Good luck!
Happy, safe travels to all!
>-
Glad you liked my photos and trip report!!
By no means would I say that either my husband or I speak Spanish, but this was our 4th trip to a Latin American country, so by now we have picked up just enough of the basics to get by. My husband also took Spanish in high school, but that was lo, so many years ago
Even on our first trip we really never considered the language barrier much of a problem.
No matter which foreign country we travel to, we always try to learn at least the basics (hello, goodbye, please, thank you, excuse me, where are the bathrooms?, etc, etc).
Bring a phrasebook with you and practice on the plane ride over at the very least.
You will surely also find people who speak English...and if not, trying to communicate via charades is always fun
The Czech Republic and Greece were two of our more challenging destinations for language but we always look at it as part of the experience and part of the joy of traveling! How boring would it be to travel the world and hear people that sound just like us?
Don't worry...you will have a great time in Peru...it is an amazing place!
Jacqueline,
We rented the car over the internet before the trip. I really don't know how different the price would have been had we just walked into the Hertz to rent it.
We were happy with them and we got a very nice, clean car!
Good luck!
Happy, safe travels to all!
>-
Feb 10th, 2008, 10:25 PM
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Thanks for your rapid reply luv2globetrot! We have done quite a bit of traveling as a family ( including Greece and Czech Republic,by the way) and I will get a phrase book pronto. I may press my son into service as a translator since he had a few years of Spanish in Jr. high .
Jul 1st, 2008, 06:55 AM
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luv2globetrot:
Many thanks for your great report.
we will be in Cusco/Machu Picchu next January so your report was of great interest.
I especially appreciate you listing point by point the 'bolito turistico ticket [and other travel data] which I copied for our use when we are there.
I still will look at your pictures but I just had to thank you right away.
So THANKS!
Woodie
Many thanks for your great report.
we will be in Cusco/Machu Picchu next January so your report was of great interest.
I especially appreciate you listing point by point the 'bolito turistico ticket [and other travel data] which I copied for our use when we are there.
I still will look at your pictures but I just had to thank you right away.
So THANKS!
Woodie
Jul 1st, 2008, 07:23 AM
#55
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WOW!!
Thanks Woodie!
No, I don't write travel articles, but maybe the editor's at Fodor's will see this and offer me a job as a travel writer
Thanks, you made my day!
>-
Lisa
--
www.luv2globetrot.com
Thanks Woodie!
No, I don't write travel articles, but maybe the editor's at Fodor's will see this and offer me a job as a travel writer
Thanks, you made my day!
>-Lisa
--
www.luv2globetrot.com
Jul 1st, 2008, 12:15 PM
#56
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luv2globetrot, I just stumbled upon your trip report and photo site. Wow, you guys are having the time of your life! Great photos and looked like you really enjoyed every place you went to. Just curious to know whether you have kids, and perhaps without them would make life and traveling easier and more fun? Contemplating our own here...
Jul 1st, 2008, 04:59 PM
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JC98,
So funny that you ask that
We were just discussing that very thing tonight when we were out at dinner, while sitting next to a couple about our age with a little toddler...how much we really love our lives and how fortunate we are to be able to travel and discuss where we want to go next. We do not have kids, by choice.
While I'm sure that experience is wonderful and essential for many people, it just wasn't what we wanted.
Traveling is so important to us and we really love the freedom our situation affords us.
Of course, you will find many people that travel with their children and have a great and rewarding time doing so.
Good luck and thanks. Glad you liked our photos!
>-
Lisa
--
www.luv2globetrot.com
So funny that you ask that
We were just discussing that very thing tonight when we were out at dinner, while sitting next to a couple about our age with a little toddler
...how much we really love our lives and how fortunate we are to be able to travel and discuss where we want to go next. We do not have kids, by choice.While I'm sure that experience is wonderful and essential for many people, it just wasn't what we wanted.
Traveling is so important to us and we really love the freedom our situation affords us.
Of course, you will find many people that travel with their children and have a great and rewarding time doing so.
Good luck and thanks. Glad you liked our photos!
>-Lisa
--
www.luv2globetrot.com
Jul 5th, 2008, 09:04 PM
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Hi Gang, We are back from our 3 week trip to the Galapagos, Amazon and Machu Picchu.6/6/08 to 6/28/08 It was wonderful; we had so many amazing experiences. We traveled with our 12yr old daughter and 16 yr old son and everyone enjoyed themselves. JC 98, It is definitely possible to travel with the kids,but it is different. I've actually enjoyed it every bit as much even though it takes more planning, because you can enjoy the way they react to the experience and that makes it even richer. My husband and I traveled a lot before we had children and started again when the kids were 4 and 8. the son has a thrill seeking gene so it was a little challenging to relax on travels prior to that ;-)
We spent a week aboard the Seaman 2 catamaran, then traveled to the Amazon via Iquitos to spend 7 days at the Tahuayo Lodge booked through Amazonia Expeditions. We then flew to Cusco in time for the Inti Raymi festival, although the airline changed our flight so that we were only able to see the last hour or so of the festival, but it was still enjoyable. We spent a day at Machu Picchu and hiked to the Sun Gate. We had planned to hike up Huayna Picchu the next day( Lisa, your photos really inspired me!) but alas a case of Montezuma's revenge made me disinclined to go.
I will check in from time to time and see if anyone has questions.
bookings for Galapagos through Martin Slater with Amazondagos ,who Perci on this web site has recommended on several occasions
We spent a week aboard the Seaman 2 catamaran, then traveled to the Amazon via Iquitos to spend 7 days at the Tahuayo Lodge booked through Amazonia Expeditions. We then flew to Cusco in time for the Inti Raymi festival, although the airline changed our flight so that we were only able to see the last hour or so of the festival, but it was still enjoyable. We spent a day at Machu Picchu and hiked to the Sun Gate. We had planned to hike up Huayna Picchu the next day( Lisa, your photos really inspired me!) but alas a case of Montezuma's revenge made me disinclined to go.
I will check in from time to time and see if anyone has questions.
bookings for Galapagos through Martin Slater with Amazondagos ,who Perci on this web site has recommended on several occasions
