althom1122

I looked at the Lost World website to get a starting point on pricing, and their 8-day trip (includes Amazon Basin vice Lake Titicaca, but presumably would be comparable in price) is over $2000 per person. That seems very expensive to me. Is that what we're talking about for such a short trip? I had figured about half that for 10 days! I do note it stays at the Pueblo Hotel in MP, which I believe is quite expensive... right? We're budget travelers for the most part. The hotels I want range from $50 to $120 for one night in MP, less for the homestay night at Lake Titicaca. So far, I'm looking at less than $700 for hotels. I would think that the guide (not every day) and internal transportation would take us up to about $2000 (for both of us), but not much more. Am I being unrealistic? I haven't contacted David yet. Might check with Percy also. But was wanting an idea of cost. One poster mentioned a one-day tour of Sacred Valley being $144 - that seems high to me. (Maybe because I'm comparing with costs in Thailand, which I realize are apples and oranges.) But would appreciate any insight into typical guide costs.
Thanks!
Karen

Elizabeth_S

I'm trying to remember our costs - here's a rough idea:

David booked all our hotels (except Sanctuary Lodge) - they ranged from $45 (Puno) to $105 (Cusco-small suite) - I checked the rates on the hotel web sites and his rates were the same or less expensive.

His daily tour rate (approx 5 hours) was about $65-$85 per person depending on the length.

I think he charged us $40 each for the airport pick up and transfer to Ollantaytambo

He purchased the train tickets for us (much more convenient to have him do it) and he charged us the amount of the ticket only.

The Lake Titicaca portion (which included the drive to Puno and back; 2 nights hotel; one night home stay and boat) was.....about $350 (I think).

Entrance to MP was $25/day/each.

We found restaurants to be quite reasonable, and there are lots of budget choices (pizza, etc).

Sorry - I'll try to find my file but leaving in 2 days for SE Asia!

althom1122

If you only had one full day for the Sacred Valley (Liz?) where would you go? Pisac? Moray? We'll prob stay in Ollanta (which IS the same as Ollantaytambo, right?). How much can you do in a day?

althom1122

Liz - thanks so much! That is exactly the kind of breakdown I was looking for. I can't believe we're actually going to do this! Am so excited and really learned a lot from your blog. Have a fabulous time in SE Asia (my daughter and I went to Thailand, Laos, and Cambodia last Feb for 3 weeks and had our best trip ever). I know I'm posting this on the wrong board, but my trip report is at:
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34762799

And thanks everyone else, too! The tips here are so very helpful.

Elizabeth_S

Thanks for the trip report link!

Ollanta and Ollantaytambo are indeed the same place - just faster to type!

From Ollanta we did Pisac (ruins and town) in one day including a leisurely lunch so you could probably add Moray (the fascinating agricultural ruin) and/or Salerno (the salt mines) plus if you're up early that morning you could visit the ruins which are right in the town of Ollanta. It would be a full day but lots of highlights!

althom1122

The $350 for the Lake Titicaca portion - was that each or for both of you?

Elizabeth_S

Just found my notes - the Lake Titicaca portion was about $360 each. (so that included transportation - car and boat - accommodation for 3 nights and meals on Amantani and guides of course).

Our total cost (not including Sanctuary Lodge) was about $2500 US with David for 10 nights (food was on top of that and the Sanctuary Lodge was a fortune, but worth it!)

althom1122

Thanks so much. How thoughtful of you to do that when you're getting ready to head off on another adventure! I really appreciate it.

Elizabeth_S

Well - I just spent the last hour reading your trip report and looking at your photos - perfect timing for me!

We have a very similar trip planned - we're 5 nights in Bangkok; 5 nights in Siem Reap (with Dara and Ponheary) and 4 nights in Luang Prabang (also Hong Kong and Singapore)....then onto NZ and OZ for 2 months.

Your photos are lovely - boy you had great weather!

All the best - Liz

althom1122

Thanks, Liz, have a great time!

cailin

That all seems very expensive, but then I guess if you choose anything other than a DIY route you will pay more. Our trip on Lake Titicaca (which included transfer from hotel to boat, boat trip with guide, local accommodation and all meals) cost us about $15 each!! However the accommodation and food were basic, but were all part of the amazing experience.

althom1122

Cailin - you arranged through titicacaperu and it was about $15 each? That sounds like a great deal. I saw your earlier post but hadn't figured out the logistics part. How did you get from Cuzco to Puno? Bus? I've considered that. So titicacaperu took care of everything from leaving the hotel in Puno? How did you then get back to Cusco (or Lima)? We're flying from Juliaca back to Lima and would need transfer (looks like early morning) to the airport. Thanks!

althom1122

I'm looking at their website - assuming you did a group tour? The one I found was $23 now (presumably gone up). How large was the group? Did that detract from the experience?

cailin

We took a bus from Puno to Cusco (we went the other way around). There are plenty of buses that leave from the central bus station - all very cheap and they leave at all hours of the day so there's no need to book ahead. The buses are a fun experience too!!

Yes, TiticacaPeru took care of everything from picking us up from the hotel to dropping us off at the hotel the following evening. We went with a group - there were probably about 30 of us. Travelling in groups isn't really my thing but, because we were all independent travellers it seemed to work OK and didn't bother us at all. For the most part on Amantini we were with the family, so we saw very little of the rest of the group. So, no, it didn't detract from the experience for us.

We did a real DIY route around Peru. Flew into Lima and got a bus from there to Pisco & Paracas, then a bus to Ica, another bus to Arequipa, bus to Puno, bus to Cusco and then we flew from Cusco to Lima. We had a lot longer than you though - we were there for 3 weeks in total.

althom1122

Cailin - thanks, that's very helpful. Gives me options. Now I just need to figure out what's best for us. My daughter, who's never been into hiking, is now thinking she wants to hike the Inca trail, which would throw a monkey wrench into the itinerary I've worked out. Would need to do a little tinkering. Thanks!!
Karen

cailin

You could always do the two day trek rather than doing the full Inca Trail. I'm very jealous!! Enjoy!

althom1122

Yes, I think I'll suggest the two-day trek to her. This is a girl whom I could barely get to go out for a walk. She's always been like, ugh, hiking. And suddenly she wants to hike the Inca Trail! Go figure.
I'm so excited, though. Whatever we do, I'm sure we'll have a ball. Thanks for all the input. I'll be sure and do a trip report. (And may have additional questions as it gets closer.)

althom1122

The trip I had originally planned for February did not pan out - ended up going to Russia instead!
Now, however, I'm definitely off to Peru. Just booked my tickets. Daughter and I are leaving 29 September, returning 8 October.
Here's where I am with the planning:

- Sat night - Arrive Lima, 9:50 p.m., hopefully staying at Mami Panchita. Have sent a reservations request but haven't heard back. They offer a transport from the airport, which I'll take them up on.

- Sunday - Fly to Cusco in the morning. Catch bus or taxi or arrange a guide (undecided - trying to stay on a budget) to Ollanta via Pisac with 2-3 hours at the market. If we go via bus, does anyone know if there's a place to store luggage for a few hours?
On to Ollanta for the night. Undecided on hotel. Hotel Sauce? Hostal Munay Tika?

- Monday - Sacred Valley Tour. Again, need to decide if we want to hire a guide or get a taxi for the day. Return to Ollanta hotel.

- Tues - train to MP. Afternoon visit to MP. Spend night.

- Wed - Early morning visit to MP, train back to Ollanta, taxi or bus to Cusco. Hopefully stay at Hostal Ninos.

- Thur - Tour Cusco.

- Fri - bus to Puno

- Sat/Sun - 2-day trip on Lake Titicaca - prob will arrange with Allways.

- Mon - transfer back to Lima for late flight home (11:30 p.m.)

Would appreciate any additional comments/updates that anyone might have!
Karen

gypsyluce

hi, depending in which train you catch to machu picchu you'll be there at around 11am tops, so you can do par of machu picchu then and have all aftenoon too. The entrance fee is now US$36 to the site per person, and the bus trip is U$12, there and back, so two days will be US$96 per day, ie US$192. So check whether you want to go both days or not. The walk up huaina picchu to get a view of the site from the mountain in front is only open in the morning.
As for your return from machu picchu you'd do better to stay on train till poroy, the station before cusco, and catch a bus from there. It cuts out about 1hr of the trip, avoiding all the switchbacks.
Another thing, why not do tour of cusco the day you arrive in cusco, will you really want to do travel to ollanta having just flown from USA to lima a day before. You could do tour of sacred valley on way back from machu picchu. It's just a thought, Dont forget you'll want to take it easy to get used to altitude. !!I'd go to moray, moras and pisac def. And Id also recommend getting a guide for the moras and moray bit, have fun.

rchearn

gypsyluce,

Traveling to MP.

We fly Lima to Cuzco on Aug 13th. Return Cuzco to Lima Aug 16th. One Day in Lima.

Do you have a site for trains that depart afternoon for Aguas Calientes? We heard that sunrise at MP is amazing!

Also, do you have any cheap hotel ideas-3 staying together!

Thanks for you help!