Hi all fellow travellers!

I am hoping you can help me with some feedback on a planned holiday to Peru. We are 2 couples in our 20s and 30s travelling, none of us having been to Latin America before, but all very much looking forward to it, having heard only great stories from those that have already been.

The holiday is only 2 months away today, so we'd like to get cracking with the action as soon as possible. Any feedback would really be valued & appreciated.

From speaking to a couple of friends who have done this, and from reading up in books and on websites, we have come up with the itinerary as below. We would much appreciate any feedback you may have on the programme. Specific questions we have are:

1. Should we aim to book ourselves or would you recommend a reliable tour operator? Does this go for both accommodation and flights?

2. Is 3 days enough for trekking Machu Picchu, bearing in mind we're young and fit, and that we will take the train back.

3. Is the trip from Cuzco to Lake Titikaka and from there onwards to Arequipa for the Colca Valley doable in 2 days?

4. We would like as much time as possible to be spend in luxury (after the hard few travelling days until then) lodging up the Amazon river from Iquitos. Ideally 4 nights, as shown in the programme, but we may have to cut this short if we need to take 4 days (instead of 3) to do the Inka Trail. For the lodged accommodation, we have been advised to not book in advance, but book upon arrival by haggling with the various tour operators.

OK, so the schedule looks like this:

Saturday, 27 November: Fly out from Heathrow to Lima via Madrid to Arrive Lima later that evening.

Sunday, 28 November: Fly out to Cuzco early morning and spend time in Cuzco during the day preparing for trek and stay over at B&B.

Monday, 29 November: Set out for Machu Picchu.

Tuesday, 30 November: Trek to Machu Picchu.

Wednesday, 1 December: Arrive Machu Picchu. Take the bus from MP to Aguas Calientes for natural hot springs. Have dinner at ones of pizza restaurant & stay over in Machu Picchu Hotel.

Thursday, 2 December: A 04:00 start to take bus from Aguas Calientes to MP to climb Waynu Picchu for sunrise over MP (no guide required). Take train to Cuzco around noon and spend rest of afternoon and evening in Cuzco. Remember to drink Pisco Sauer.

Friday, 3 December: Fly from Cuzco to Arequipa in the early morning to explore Colca Valley for the rest of the day.

Saturday, 4 December: Fly from Arequipa to Juliaca in the early morning and on to Puno by train or bus to Lake Titikaka. Spend the day at Lake Titikaka and return to Juliaca or spend the night at Lake Titikaka.

Sunday, 5 December: Fly out from Juliaca to Lima early morning and spend a whole day in Lima. Parque Kennedy in the uptown area is nice for coffee / drink. Sights in downtown Lima are the main square and the Presidential Palace.

Monday, 6 December: Fly out to Iquitos, right on banks of Amazon. Visit poor end of town to see houses on stilts and hanging bridges Spend rest of the day in Iquitos and haggle with tourist agencies for cheap lodged accommodation up the Amazon.

Tuesday, 7 December: Head up the Amazon towards lodged accommodation. Look out for pink dolphins & caymans. Spend the night at lodge

Wednesday, 8 December: Spend a second day at lodge tripping up and down the Amazon.

Thursday, 9 December: Spend a third day at lodge tripping up and down the Amazon.

Friday, 10 December: Spend a fourth day at lodge tripping up and down the Amazon.

Saturday, 11 December: Return to Iquitos and fly back to Lima. Fly out from Lima to Heathrow.

Sunday, 12 December: Arrive Madrid mid-afternoon and connect to Heathrow to arrive late afternoon.

That's it...feedback would be greatly appreciated...many thanks in advance for your help...!

Hi!
Peru is certainly a wonderful spot, but I do wish you had more time to give it as you want to do so much.
I have always seen the Inka Trail as a two (for the shorter version) or four day hike; from what I understand, you have to go with a guided group. I was only on a bit of it, but it wasn't something that one could run on for sure! And of course, as I'm sure you're aware, the sunrise tends to be more of a "lighting of the mist". However, it is certainly mystical and magical.
Another consideration is that it really does help to acclimate to the altitude first, unless of course you're coming from a 12,000 ft homeland. MP is lower than Cusco, but altitude sickness and adjusting to less oxygen is certainly a factor.

If you get an opportunity to use Explorama Lodges out of Iquitos (Explornapo and Explorama were my favorites) do so! They're lovely; Ceiba Tops, the luxury hotel of the jungle, is beautiful, but I liked the lodges best.

I'm sure someone else will have better help for you, but I wanted to share these few thoughts. Peru was one of my favorite places ever!

(Pix at http://community.webshots.com/user/missalg)

Hi Scatterling, I see a few logistics problems with your planned itinerary. Amy is right about acclimating to the altitude. I'll add to her comments by pointing out that some of the passes along the Inca trail to MP are higher than Cusco.

Buses do not leave Aguas Calientes at 4 AM. I think the earliest one is about 6:00 or 6:30.

There is not a train from Aguas Calientes to Cusco at noon that arrives late afternoon. The earliest train leaves at 3:30 PM with an arrival into Cusco at 720 PM. http://www.perurail.com/Frames_Pages/mainpage1.htm

I read in the latest issue of the South American Explorer's magazine that you now need to be scheduled for the Inca Trail 5 days early and that there are a limited number of people allowed on the trail each day.

For a Pisco Sour check out the Cross Keys Pub in Cusco. It will be a reminder of a British Pub and is quite popular.

You have chosen a wonderful destination. Have a great time!

- Sharon

I don't know if you have seen any of my earlier posts, but I recommend Lost World Adventures, ask for Denise. They will arrange for a driver and a van, take care of the hotel and air and can make very helpful suggestions on acclimitazion and practical advice on timing. I highly recommend them. Our tour guide was a thirty something fellow in phenomenal shape who regularly did the Inka Trail. He was a college educated Peru historian and fluent in English. The two couples will be the whole group so it isn't like you will be saddled with people less fit or active.

Dear Scattering,
I visited Peru sometime ago and I think your itinerary is a little over ambitious and I have a couple of suggestions.

You are treating Cusco as if it's nothing more than a stop off for Macchu Picchu when in fact it's a great destination in its own right, there's lots to see in the city and in the sacred valley.

I visited Lake Titicaca but personally I thought it was the least interesting place I went to in Peru, I would cut it out.

I liked Arequipa but I don't really think you have time in your itinerary to fit it in or to get to the Colca Canyon.

Have you considered visiting the southern Brazilian Amazon? It's easy to fly from Cuzco to Puerto Maldonaldo which means you won't have to fly back through Lima until the end of your trip.

Hope this helps.

Hi Scatterling,

good info from everyone else. a couple things to add.
i heard that it is no longer allowed to take the day walk to Waynu Picchu (but I have not been able to verify this info yet, so check with whatever operator you use to make sure they give you the latest info. things change monthly for the regulations on machu picchu).

for a sunrise at machu picchu you would have to leave aguas calientes by 4 am and walk up to machu picchu.

For the inca trail trek to machu picchu the new regulations require that you book your trek at least 30 days ahead.

your 5-6 days in iquitos is a hit or miss as you will be expecting to find a lodge with a great wildlife experience by wandering the streets of iquitos. the best places are not anywhere close to iquitos, most are at least 90+ miles away up the amazon river. the pacaya samiria reserve is considered one of the better destinations. one new lodge that gives excellent wildlife opportunities is the Pacaya Samiria Amazon Lodge. very remote and really a blast.
info is at www.peruperu.com

happy trails,
davarian

We are also hoping to travel to Machu Picchu from the U.K. but in October 2005 and so we are just putting it together now. Two things that strike me are:
We were advised against the Iberia connection via Madrid as it was very long-but it may not be the same for you depending on where you are flying from. At present we are favouring Delta via Atlanta.
Also if you are going at the end of November , isn't this the wet season and not so good for the Inca Trail?
Frances