Hello,

My husband and I considered the OAT trip to Peru & the Galapagos Islands but then contacted Peru Best Tours and are considering more of an independent trip. I would love any feedback for this first trip to South America. I know it is a busy trip and we could add on another day or so, if needed. Ideally, these areas all could deserve a lot more time, I know, but perhaps we can return some day. We plan to go next October. Our tentative itinerary is:

Day 1 Lima (arrive and overnight)
Day 2 Transfer to Cuzco - overnight Cuzco
Day 3 Cuzco City Tour - overnight Cuzco
Day 4 Sacred Valley Tour, train from Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes - overnight AC
Day 5 Tour Machu Picchu, train to Cuzco - overnight Cuzco
Day 6 Cuzco - overnight Cuzco
Day 7 Fly to Puerto Maldonado - overnight rainforest lodge
Day 8, 9 Amazon rainforest - overnight rainforest lodge
Day 10 fly to Lima - city tour - overnight Lima
Day 11 Lima - overnight Lima
Day 12 fly to Quito - overnight Quito
Day 13 tour Quito - overnight Quito
Day 14 - 17 Tour Galapagos - overnight on ship
Day 18 Fly back from Quito

Thanks so much!

Not a big fan of spending the3 first two nights in Cusco.
Why expose yourself to that altitude unless you will be hiking the IT.

Stay the first few nights in Urubamba or Ollantaytambo and see the Sacred Valley first. THEN go to Machu Picchu. Then transfer back to Cusco.


I do not think it is worthwhile to go to Galapagos for only 3 days. You will basically have only 1.5 days to see anything.

Personally, I'd probably drop Puerto Maldonado, it isn't even the "real" Amazon River. You can see 'jungle' in other places.

Then you have a few more days to add to Galapagos.

I question your choice of travel agencies if they designed the above itinerary for you.

Thanks, mlgb. I was worried about Cusco and the altitude issue. I will try to revise this. We will be four nights in the Galapagos so I think this gives us 3.5 days of touring.

This is still a work in progress. I appreciate your input. We are getting excited!

A few additional thoughts to add to mlgb's suggestions.
1. On day two get the earliest flight you can to Cusco and get a taxi straight to Ollantaytambo or Urumbamba as suggested by mlgb. Easier to acclimatise there than Cusco.
2. Whilst most people will spend the night in Aguas Calientes prior to MP it is entirely possible to do this in a day by getting an early train from Ollanta and a late train back thus saving time for elsewhere.
3. Many of the highlights of the SV can be incorporated into the trip back to Cusco from Ollanta. Moray, Maras, Chinchero and perhaps Pisac.
4. Cusco deserves/ needs at least two full days, preferably three.
5. Instead of adding a couple of days to Lima in the middle consider adding these at the beginning of your trip and maybe looking for a connecting flight to Ecuador.
6. I understand that most Galapagos trips leave from Guayaci
so consider flying there, even if it means a connecting flight and leave Quito until your final days in country.

I agree w crellston, except re Guayaquil. Try to work w someone who lets you ON in Quito.

Yes,4 nights gets you 3.5 days. A 4-day cruise, however is 3 nights and really 2.5 days of sightseeing . Day 17 I assumed you would depart the cruise which typically is a lost day (you will likely be at the airport by 8 am).

Also many cruises have a very weak Day 1.

Still doesnt change my recommendation to allocate more time thete.

Great suggestions, thank you both. A lot to think about!

A couple thoughts.

It seems like too much running around. What are your goals? Machu Pichu? The Galapagos? Cuzco? The Amazon? I would figure that out first and then proceed from there.

I found Lima to be somewhat unremarkable, so I think you are spending too much time there. However, maybe there is something there you really want to explore?

I would agree with the others to go to the Sacred Valley first to acclimate before exploring Cuzco. Even doing that, I struggled a bit with the altitude the first couple of days so be prepared.

How important is MP to you? Is it a must see or a check off the list? If it is a must see then I urge you to spend more time than a quick afternoon. I assume you don't want to do the full hike but there is a shorter, one day hike option. You get off the train at Km104, I believe and hike from there. You still need a guide and permits but it isn't a 4 or 5 day trip. Llamapath could help you.

It seems as if you are spending very little time in the Galapagos. What wildlife is important to you to see and will this short cruise allow you to do so? What islands? It is such an expensive place to visit (I heard the entrance fee is going up to $200pp soon on top of the tourist card, flight from Quito, etc.) you should max out the time there. Once again, is it someplace you really are excited about visiting and want to see certain species (the blue footed boobie or marine iguana, for instance)? Follow the information regarding how this massive El Nino is impacting the islands and wildlife. It is a fragile eco-system and the last major El Nino really hurt the wildlife populations and it took several years for them to rebound. What size cruise will this be?

Good luck planning.