Hi. We are looking to do Machu Picchu, and have 1 week from U.S. to Lima and back. We just want to do the train up, but are wondering if we should book this whole trip ourselves (hotel reservations, transfers, guide, train and in country flight booking) or hire a tour company.

Should we book and company, and if so, any suggestions on a good Peru tour company to help us with the MP trip?

When I self guided last flew www.spirit.com FLL LIM

did the Gringo Trail by bus and driver/guide to MP

stayed at www.apulodge.com www.ollantaytambo.org

www.casa-andina.com Cusco plaza classic and flew back $1kpp

www.ancientsummit.com Nina

www.perubesttours.com Mike

www.peruforless.com

all good if u need help rave reviews on the boards

independent insuremytrip.com always wise

do not go late Jan or Feb too much rain.


Happy Planning!

adventures.worldnomads.com/destination/168/itinerary/23.aspx

make more time if you can 2 weeks is much more doable...

Thanks!

Wow, I'm finding this to be a lot more expensive that I had thought it would be.....

Hi Khedge,

I just returned from a trip to Sacred Valley/Cusco. We went for 6 nights, 7 days and found the trip to be the perfect amount of time - relaxed, yet enough to do to keep us busy each day.

I have to say that I found Peru to be MUCH more expensive than I anticipated. While you can find nice, cheap hotels, meals are definitely not cheap - though I guess it depends where you go, we happened to eat at "nicer" places so perhaps that is why.

I booked the entire trip myself - from the flights, hotels, guides, trains, etc. It was really easy to do and everything worked out perfectly. We did have a guide every day though (David Choque), and if we didn't, I'm not quite sure how we would have gotten around.

Best of luck planning!

We booked ourselves with the help of Rumi Punku hotel in Cusco. The food was reasonably priced (and delicious!) but we spent more on a hotel than we thought we would because of reviews we read. Definitely get a guide, as you will learn so much more about the sites. There is not really any interpretive materials available at the sites.

Hi, Lima is cheap, but Cusco, for being a touristic place, is more expensive. I rather plan the trip for myself than hire a tour, cause I can go everywhere I want and at my own time. Here you can find information for Cusco hotels http://en.visitlatin.com/cusco-hotels.htm and also for flights to Cusco http://en.visitlatin.com/cusco-flights.htm Probably if you organize all by yourself will be even cheaper than taking a tour. Have fun!

I recommend the following:
day 1: Lima to Cusco early flight. City tour of Cusco with agency or private car/driver recommend Mr. Eugenio [email protected]
day 2: Sacred Valley tour with agency or driver stay at Olly for lat train to AG spend night
day 3:MP early morning late train to Olly then to Cusco for the night.
day 4: Visit moray maras/salineras, chinchero
day 5: Andayllias tipon
day 6: Lima
for hotels, agencies etc visit the www.saexplorers.org