Fine tuning MP/SV itinerary
 

My husband and I and two other couples leave for Peru in two months. (I was just reviewing a thread I posted a year ago about this trip! I guess I am a super advanced planner.)

Anyway, after reading some recent threads, I'm a little concerned about making our flight back to the US as scheduled since we are flying Cuzco to Lima earlier the same day. Should I look into changing one of our flights, say depart Lima for the US a day later if possible? Or depart Cuzco earlier?

Here's the plan:

Day 1- arrive Lima 11 pm; overnight Ramada airport hotel

Day 2- morning flight Lima to Cuzco
Pisac ruins and Sunday market
Check into Sacred Valley hotel for 3 nights

Day 3- Maras (Salineras), Moray, and Chinchero

Day 4- Ollantaytambo ruins

Day 5- early train Urubamba to Machu Picchu
Guided tour MP
Check into Inkaterra Machu Picchu for 2 nights

Day 6- more MP

Day 7- morning train to Ollantaytambo; driver to Cuzco
Guided tour of Cuzco including Saqsayhuaman, Qenqo, and Qoricancha
Check into Cuzco hotel for 2 nights

Day 8- free day

Day 9- late morning flight arriving Lima 11:45 am
Afternoon tour of historic Lima
11:45 pm flight back to US

PS. We've hired David Choque as our guide.

You are well crafted.. David is great never have seen a negative

Hotels are the best...

mdtravelhealth.com Peru for health issues

quotewright.com for comp insurance rare strikes etc...

Odds are you will be fine with your flights though

Personally prefer to come in day B4 Marriott Miraflorespeu.com

on the ocean is great... relax enjoy see more of the city

as you will have the whole day... limacabs.com for xport

Congrats you have really done your homework...

Respect the altitude... Happy Travels!

www.libertador.com.pe or Monasterio great for Cusco...

Tambo Del Inka best SV hotel above casa-andina.com super nice

David is great...we used him a few years ago.
Our flt out of Cusco was the first one that made it out that day. we left noonish. We did arrange our flights so that we had a day in Lima in case of flt issues. while we still would have made our late nite flt home on the same day we left Cusco, it was worth it not to be worried. I would rearrange your flts as u asked.

Many people catch the morning flight to Lima and make their evening flight home with no problem.

We really enjoyed Lima though, and were glad to have extra time there. Having had one flight cancelled in the middle of our trip, it was also nice not having to worry about connecting with our international flight.

I'd take the 1:30 flight to Lima on day 8. That will give you a half day to explore more of Cusco; the plaza, market or San Blas. You'll get into Lima and have time for a nice dinneror even an evening tour.

On your last day, you can leave your bags at your hotel, tour Lima, then come back to your hotel for a shower (if they have an exercise or pool bath room), then catch a cab to the airport. Less stress!

Another happy David customer here!

Are you flying LAN (or a LAN partner) on both legs - i.e. Cusco to Lima/Lima to the States? That would affect my decision because if you do have a delay the airline would be obligated to get you home.

Thanks for all the feedback!

qwovadis- we are staying at Tambo del Inka and Hotel Monasterio. I'm really looking forward to both.

lcuy- Your idea is very good, although I'm concerned I don't have enough time as is in Cuzco based on all the wonderful things I've read.

Elizabeth- we are flying LAN to Lima and then Delta back to the States.

So, I called Delta and to officially push our departure out a day will be $150 plus 20,000 FF miles per person (we bought our international tickets with miles). However, the rep indicated that if we miss our original flight because we can't get out of Cuzco, they will just put us on the same flight the next night no problem. So, as long as neither of us has to be at work on Day 11 I think I'll either leave as is and cross our fingers or take lcuy's suggestion and cut our time in Cuzco...

Just leave it as is, and cross fingers, I think.