shothyme77

Hi -
My husband and I are planning a last minute trip ot Peru in June. We've been speaking with David (mentioned on this site) and some other tour agencies. David's itinerary was a bit too budget for our liking and while I will be speaking with him about it, we wanted to try to put together our ideal itinerary before making any decisions. Here's what we're thinking:

19
Th
AA to LIM
Lima (Nasca Lines?)
Sheraton

20
F
Lan to CUZ, drive to Urubama
Sacred Valley - Urubamba (rest)
Hotel Sol y Luna

21
Sa

Sacred Valley - Ollantaytambo, Moray, Maras
Hotel Sol y Luna

22
Su
[xxx] to Aguas Caliente
Sunday market (Pisac?) and Machu Pichu
TBD (Hostal Presidente?)

23
M
[xxx] back to Cuzco
Machu Pichu (including sunrise)
TBD

24
T

Cuzco (Chinchero, Huilloc)
TBD

25
W
Cuzco
TBD

26
Th
Drive to Puno (sites on way)
Cuzco to Puno
TBD (Casa Andina or Libertador)

27
F

Lake Titicaca
TBD (Casa Andina or Libertador)

28
Sa
Lan from JUL to LIM
Lake Titicaca and Lima

Would love suggestions on the following:

1) the amount of time we are spending in each place
2) if we are missing any certain things that fall on certain days (markets only on tues, sun, etc)
3) the hotels we already have booked and suggestions for the places we don't have them
4) how do we get in touch with presidente hostal?
5) flying vs driving to puno
6) altitude issues in lake titicaca area
7) hiring David for the whole time or getting separate guides in each area
8) any artists, craftsman that are non-touristy that we might want to look out for our on trip
9) any other thoughts, comments on the above?

Thank you so very much for all your help!!!

mistadobalina

I'm having a little trouble following because of the [xxx] - my assumption is that means that was an old plan.

The Hotel Sol y Luna is nice - we had lunch there one day, and I remember thinking that if I went back to the area I would stay there. If you have a car, you could avoid moving around in hotels - just drive or take the train.

We didn't stay near as long in Cuzco/Sacred Valley as you are planning, but that's not to say that more days wouldn't have been more relaxing. I guess it's up to you to best balance # of sights versus relaxation.

I'm not sure you can do the Nasca lines as a day trip from Lima, but I could be wrong. Depending on what time you get in to Lima, you might be best served to just connect to Cuzco that same day. Usually that first day is shot because of long travel and dehydration, so its best to just travel a lot and get to a final destination around dinner time, so you can just get your clock right.

taitai

I am a bit confused as well. Are you thinking of doing the market in Pisac and Machu Picchu all in the same day? That seems very difficult if not impossible. When does the last train leave?

I think the two full days you are planning in Cusco make sense. There is a lot to see there.

Good luck.
taitai

shothyme77

Thanks so much. We were planning on doing pisac in the morning and then macchu that night...I guess that's not doable.

We could go right from lima to cusco to sv the same day, but was trying to be in SV on a sunday for the market. How many days is enough for SV?

Since we're kinda planning on our own to some extent - I don't want to miss any markets, etc that fall on certain days.

blamona

Too much back and forth.
Pisac/Ollytantambo/Chicheros can be done in the same day, or at least grouped together. I would stick to "groupings" instead of back and forth to MP and Cusco. Ex: a couple days in Cusco, A couple in Sacred Valley, a couple in MP/Aguas Calientes. Your itinery, if I read correctly, has you going Cusco-Pisac-MP-Sacred Valley-Cusco-MP-to much bacvk and forth.

shothyme77

Thanks for all your comments. Does this sound like a better itinerary?

Thursday Lima Sheraton
Friday fly to cusco, drive to SV - Urubama (rest) Hotel Sol y Luna
Sat: Sacred Valley - Ollantaytambo, Moray, Maras Hotel Sol y Luna

Sun: Pisac, Chincero, Hullioc (Hostal Presidente

Monday: Machu Pichu TBD
Tues: Cuzco TBD
Wed: Cuzco TBD
Thurs: Drive Cuzco to Puno TBD (Casa Andina or Libertador)
Fri: Lake Titicaca TBD (Casa Andina or Libertador)
Sat: Lake Titicaca and fly back thru Lima

Would love to hear comments on this revised version...Thanks!

taitai

Not sure that I would switch from Sol y Luna just for one night, especially as it looks as if you will be in a different hotel the next night (in Aguas Calientes). Might not be worth all the hassle.

If I am reading this correctly, on Monday morning you are taking the train to MP, spending the day there, staying somewhere in AC that night and then coming back sometime the next day. Correct? That sounds fine.

You will arrive in Cusco sometime Wed night, spend Thursday in Cusco and then drive out on Friday to Puno. Personally, I would spend two days in Cusco (one day to explore the ruins, another the town) but you might be "ruined out" by then.

The only thing I would start focusing on, and soon, is your train tickets to MP. We did the two day hike so our outfitter got our tickets but I understand from others on this board that it can be a slight hassle and they do sell out.

We loved the Inkaterra (stay in room 41) in Aguas Calientes and wished we had stayed longer there.

taitai