I think someone else also mentioned that the route along the coast is relatively quick. You would think for example that staying closer in to the center of Lima would help, but it doesn't!

Thanks as always mlgb. I arranged a transport from our hotel to the airport at 8:30am. That should give us plenty of time to make our 1pm flight. I will also check in the day before. That usually helps. If it were just me at would stay at recommended hotel. But, my husband preferred the one we chose. It was a great deal and well reviewed, so I feel okay about it. I guess I need to just pay the extra $100 a ticket and go with Lan from Cusco to Lima, as I want to spend a whole extra day in Cusco and Lan has the only evening flights. Thanks again for everybody's help!!

I'm not sure you can check in online for flights to the US from overseas. It may depend on the airlines. You may be able to "precheck" but you usually have to stand in at least one, two or three lines!

Okay, Thanks! Here's my last remaining reservation that I could use some feedback on. Because the only evening flights from Cusco to Lima are on Lan, I am planning to go with the $181 one way on Lan. They have several 7pm-ish options. Some of my family are on the last flight of the day, 7:40pm. I am not a 'last flight of the day' gal. I live by a small regional airport and sometimes due to fog, etc...that last flight gets canceled or delayed. I thought of trying for a couple flights before hand at around 7:10. Am I being to cautious/paranoid?

You have 2 nights in Lima?

Can you check flightstats.com and see how often those flights are cancelled? Late matters less if you have a full day between flights.

Btw it takes maybe 15 minutes to get to the Cusco airport if you are coming from Cusco. Why stay late there? I would rather fly to Lima and have dinner there (better restaurants too). Many are near your hotel.

Thanks! I have some of my family still there in Cusco and want to hang with them for a bit. I'm really only in Cusco 1 1/2 days and two nights. It's a Sunday night so traffic once we get to Lima should be moderate..I hope. Several family members fly straight Cusco-Lima and then on to the USA (hence my original question). I wanted to be in the same city on the day I take my international flight. I do plan on a dinner the one full day we are in Lima, as well as a full day tour. Thanks for the flightstats website! I'll check it out!!

I love Flightstats!! Thanks for that! The last flight of the day has a good on time rate, but an almost 10% cancelled rate.

Hi! Is anyone still out there? i need an opinion. My trip is booked and I am excited. The only unresolved issue is what flight we should take from Cusco to Lima. We are in Cusco for two nights and the one full day we are there we have booked a full day private tour. The day we would fly to Lima, many of our family are flying Latam (Lan) Airline's last flight of the day at 7:40 to catch their international flight home in the wee hours. I'm not usually into last flights of the day anywhere. I have been looking at Flightstats and there are many flights in the evening. I want to spend some time that last day with the family, maybe checking out the markets, etc. Mind you, this is on a Sunday, so Lima traffic shouldn't be so bad. So, here are my options....a flight that leaves at 4:40pm and arrives at 6:05pm...if the flight's on time, plenty of time for dinner in Lima. Other options are 5:45pm-7:10pm and 6:25pm-7:55pm. Also, Cusco is our last stop before going back to Lima. Opinions?

ALSO, how much time should we allow between our Cusco hotel on that Sunday to give ourselves a low stress get to the airport, security, etc? Thank so much!!

It has never taken me more than an hour to get to/from Lima airport, so that plus whatever your recommended check in time is. Lima apparently has a bad rep for delays in getting checked in but I can't say I have ever experienced that. Mind you we travel carry on only and check in online so it is never a problem anyway.

I rarely schedule another flight on the same day in when leaving for an intercontinental flight but if I had to I would go for the earlier flight. But then I am the sort of person that always turns up way to early for flights - say me sitting in Cartagena airport in the middle of a tropical storm, flights delayed and I still turned up way too early! :-)

I'm still not clear on the questions. One question is how long from Cusco hotel to the airport, right? As I said above, it is barely 15 minutes. (And always allow an extra 15 minutes in case the first taxi doesn't show up!)

You will have to check with the airline to see how early you need to be at the gate. If you can check in online that will help in Cusco, it's a tiny airport.

For Lima, I have had it take longer than an hour, although it is usually more like 45 minutes. If there is a special event, ie parade or marathon, which are often on Sundays (but in the daytime at least). Or road construction. I allow 3 to 3.5 hours from the time I leave Lima, to the time my flight departs. But I'm also one to be better safe than sorry and reduce stress levels.

I think because I fly back to the US I can't do online check-in for the international flight, so I have to wait in line for an agent at the check-in desk. On the way home, there is usually enough "stuff" purchased that I also need to check a bag. So sometimes I have been stuck in a slow-moving line at check-in.

Thanks and sorry I am so confusing. My bad. We will be staying in Lima for two nights after flying from Cusco to Lima..not flying back to the USA with the others. I just can't decide on whether to spend a few extra hours on my final day in Cusco and take an early evening flight from Cuz-Lim or take either late afternoon flight and get to Lima a little earlier on the Sunday evening. Probably no big deal either way. Thanks so much for being there for me! And sorry I didn't do a thorough enough job of reading old posts first :)

I'm always in favor of the earlier flight, but since you've got two nights instead of just one, and want to spend more time with the family in Cusco, I'd give the lukewarm okay to taking the late flight.

BTW have you been able to do a seat assignment online with LAN yet? I'm having trouble with "bad scripts" on their new website. I hate to call them, their phone reps are the worst!

Re the seat assignments, I was able to send a Facebook Message and get seats assigned.

I will do anything not to talk to their phone reps!

Btw dinner in Lima starts late. 8 pm is early!

Thanks! I was able to easily get seat assignments on the international Lan flights that I have through AA.

I figure a late dinner is what we will do. I think I'll take one of the later flights, just not the latest flight.

Now, my next research is whether to get a script for Diamox...Any thoughts?

Personally, I didn't need it for Cusco. Especially if you go straight to the Sacred Valley for your first night, you will likely be okay. Some people just get a headache and slightly out of breath, which you can manage with Advil and walking slowly. It's also a good idea to not eat too much late at night, or drink alcohol in Cusco. And stay hydrated (2 Liter bottle per person per day).

If it turns out you feel worse that than, there are a few options. 1) Ask your hotel if you can have a little oxygen. 2) Buy Diamox (Acetazolamida generic) in Peru. Be sure you understand the dosages and to not combine it with aspirin or other medicines. Many pharmacists in Cusco will speak English, btw) 3) Go lower in elevation, either Ollantaytambo or Aguas Calientes.

I know you did not plan the itinerary but just so you know the altitude thing goes like this...Machu Picchu is LOWER than Ollantaytambo which is LOWER than Cusco.

People who are not hiking the Inca Trail, do NOT need to sleep in Cusco to acclimate for MP. In fact that is backwards and there is no good reason to do it, other than it's easier for tour companies if you stay in Cusco, because that's where most employees live.

I had Diamox but didn't use it in Cusco or anywhere else in Peru.

Eat nothing your first day in the mountains and do little. You might venture out to get some soup in the evening.

I went to a pharamacy in Cusco and the pharmacist gave me glucosamine tablets for my head and stomach.

Between my first trip and second trip, I had started taking glucosamine daily for joint pain and found that I had no trouble when I got to Cusco except for the fatigue that comes with altitude. Not prescribing anything, just relating my experiences.

BTW--second time around, I stayed in Cusco for a week and didn't go to MP at all. Cusco and the surrounding area is one of the most fascinating places in the world

I had to eat something...but it simple and carb-y, eg quinoa soup or a sandwich.

Just don't go out for a big heavy meal with lots of booze the first night.

I have been at altitude many times. My first time in Cusco it affected me quite badly mainly in the form of a raging headache. The place we were staying at had oxygen (many do) and that helped as did pain killers and chewing coca leaves. My wife was unaffected - maybe it's a man thing? Next day I was ok.

Since then we have always managed to stay at altitudes lower than Cusco. Quito, Ollantyatmbo etc. Which helps immensely. This last time however I took Diamox aswe went from Lima at sea level to a place above Huaraz at 3600m and within a couple of days were hiking up to 4600-4800 m. It worked fine for me and I felt amazingly fine. The only side effects fro both out us was slight tingling in extremities.

With Diamox, for it to be effective, it is important to take it a couple of days prior to ascending. There is little point in taking once you are at altitude. We bought ours in a pharmacy in Lima where it is much cheaper than at home (and where few docs will prescribe it as it is not licensed for altitude reasons in the UK).

While it's better to start it 48 hours before, you can actually start Diamox after you arrive to help speed up your adjustment.

But in the Cusco area, with Ollantaytambo so nearby, it's probably more effective to descend and see if that, rest, and a little oxygen helps, unless you are in the few percent of percent who have the more severe symptoms. In that case you'd want to see a doctor.