Kathie

mlgb, I recommended Totally Latin America, which is based in Cusco. We have booked with them for November and their approach and service has been excellent thus far. We got two quotes, their price was better and they listened to what we wanted to do, where we wanted to stay. The other company substituted hotels and scheduled lots of guides which we had specified we didn't want.

A week may be enough for you, though I'd add at least another day if I could. Our trip will be 15 days, covering the same area. We like time to explore and linger.

yestravel

Forgot to mention that last year year two friends did the OAT tour and were both very happy with it.

long2travel

Thanks everyone for your advice. I think we be contacting several of the tour companies listed above asking for quotes and itinerary recommendations. If we arrive very early on a Saturday morning and plan to leave on a Monday (about 8 days) what would be your recommended itinerary?
Lima - 1 day
SV - 2 days
MP - 2 days ( one night at Sanctuary Lodge)
Cusco - 2 days
??

Migb - we liked the looks of El Albergue in Ollantaytambo.

Any other hotel or itinerary recommendations are quite welcome.

Amy

Usually I travel alone/independently, but my first trip to Peru was with OAT (difficulties that year and not time/energy to self-organize) and I thought it was great.

long2travel

One more question... What are some of the activities you do in the Sacred Valley?

Kathie

I find counting nights easier, as it helps you see how much time you have at a place. So, to get one day in Lima, I expect you may need two nights, depending on what time your flight arrives. To get two full days in the sacred valley would require three nights. I expect you are thinking of spending two nights there and having one full day and two partial days in the Sacred Valley. But if you leave for MP early, you may want three nights in the sacred valley so you have two full days. Likewise, for Cusco at the end - you will take the train from MP, and staying to nights gives you just one day.

So - Lima 1 night
Sacred valley 3 nights
MP - one night
Cusco - 3 nights would be my recommendation.

long2travel

There is an overnight flight that would get us into Lima at 6:50am. We would be tired but would certainly have a full day in Lima. Would you stay overnight and fly to Cusco the next morning?

Kathie

I think I'd stay overnight in Lima and fly the next morning to Cusco. While you could plan to fly to Cusco ASAP once you get to Lima, I would think that the long flight plus the altitude would not be a good combination.

mlgb

If you arrive early on Saturday, I would fly Lima to Cusco that day, and transfer to the Sacred Valley for the first night. The last time I traveled, I also flew in on a Saturday, and spent two nights in Pisac. The remainder of the Saturday you can have a nap (a good idea anyways on arrival at altitude). and perhaps take a taxi or walk into town in the afternoon (the horno colonial is fun to visit). Sunday is the market day in Pisac, something that I think is worth seeing, including the mayors arrival at the chapel. Sunday afternoon you can see the top of Pisac ruins, and if you like to hike and don't feel any altitude effects, walk down from the top of the ruins.

Flights from North America don't involve much jet lag since they are north to south. Sleeping overnight on a plane is another story for some, so I try not to catch up on sleep before I leave.

On the Monday I took the local bus/combi combo to transfer from Pisac to Ollantaytambo (record time of 1.5 hours, apparently). You can of course take a taxi instead. I spent several nights there, round tripping to MP in between. Since I had bought only the "partial" Sacred Valley boleto turistico, I visited the Ollantaytambo ruins on Monday afternoon. I did a day trip to Patacancha with Awamaki from Ollantaytambo. KB hostal also runs bike trips from Olly (people like the Abra Malaga one). KB has some good info on their website about taxi fares and tours from Ollantaytambo. I've stayed at their hostal (it's very small, just a few rooms on the main square). If you just want a straight taxi transfer and book it yourself with a driver, it will be less.

http://kbperu.com/more-info/transpor...t-mines-moray/

I think I went to MP on Tuesday and did the Awamaki tour on Weds (you need to coordinate with them since they don't go every day).

On the drive back from Ollantaytambo to Cusco, take the high road and also stop at Chinchero, Moray and Salineras. You can also do it as a round trip from Ollantaytambo.

From Cusco you can see the city sights such as Koricancha, or take a tour to Sacsayhuaman, etc.

It's best to finish your stay in Cusco, which has the highest altitude. The airport is very near to the city center, and many hotels will include a free pickup if you advise them in advance.

I've stayed twice at El Balcon in Cusco, others in the mid range are Second Home Cusco and Terra Viva. I like the El Balcon location which is reachable by taxi (many in Cusco are not) and walkable to the Plaza de Armas.

For info on Peru, the website AndeanTravelWeb is quite good.

Here is their link explaining the boleto turistico
http://www.andeantravelweb.com/peru/...ity_guide.html

mlgb

Re Lima, I've posted many times that my favorite place to stay is Barranco, and I like to stay at 3 B, because of both the location, modest cost (although rising) and the staff. It works great for singles or couples, smallish modern rooms and near a Metropolitano station. Of course there are many other choices in Lima, and it's also a good place to use up some hotel points since many of the big chains are now opening hotels. My favorite receptionist at 3 B went to work for the Hilton there
http://3bhostal.com/

mlgb

Photos from that 2012 visit
Pisac http://www.flickr.com/photos/buddysa...7630074643072/
Patacancha http://www.flickr.com/photos/buddysa...7629686882542/

long2travel

Thanks everyone for all your input. Great pictures migb! I do want to spend some time seeing the culture and the people, not just ruins.
I contacted Peru Best Tours (mike), Luxury Peru Tours, and Cusco Top Travel (david) a few days ago. Peru Best Tours responded right away but the itinerary was a little off from what we requested. He recommended visiting Cusco first and the Sacred Valley last. Luxury Peru Tours had some good info, still talking with them. We haven't heard back from the form we filled out at Cusco Top Travel. I'm not sure of their normal turn around time so I sent him an email just in case they didn't get it.
Our next dilemma is weighing staying at the Sanctuary Lodge vs. InkaTerra for our time at Machu Picchu but I will start another thread.

Kathie

Glad to hear you have contacted several local agents. I expect the replies you get will make it clear which one to use.

I wonder why Peru Best recommended visiting Cusco before the Sacred valley. That is opposite the recommendations to help prevent or minimize altitude sickness.

Amy

I certainly agree that it is much, much better to go to the Sacred Valley first and then on to Cusco. I had no altitude sickness problems in Cusco after I'd been to the Sacred Valley, but really suffered when going to Lhasa (about the same altitude as Cusco) from Chengdu (at sea level.)

long2travel

I know, we specifically requested SV, MP, then Cusco. In that order, based on recommendations here. He said it was because "you won't need an expensive private transfer to the Sacred Valley on arrival. A Lot of people want to visit the valley first because of the lower altitude. But because the airport is in Cuzco if you are one of the very few people to be taken ill you will need to remain in Cuzco anyway." Maybe he was trying to save money. Will discuss it further with him.

mlgb

It is true that the transfer to Ollantaytambo will cost you more than starting in Cusco, but it's only $50. In my book that is worth it.

Someone considering the Sanctuary is not going to be bothered with
$50 transfers.

I do believe Peru Best would put together what ever itinerary you wanted, if you let them know the price is not the issue.

Kathie

One of the measures of an agent for me is how well they listen to me and arrange what I asked for - or tell me why their suggestion is better. Saving $50 vs. preventing altitude sickness is no contest for me. Yes, tell him again what you want and see if he is able to accommodate your requests.

mlgb

Another local private guide that gets excellent reviews is Percy Salas
[email protected]

You don't need to hire him for the entire trip, either, just the days you want to have a guide.

As I said previously, booking your own hotels and asking them to arrange airport transfers, and taxis is easy. In English.

I have had no issues with booking Peru Rail tickets, online. They can be changed with 24 hours notice for a 10% fee.

I have run in to a number of tourists on package tours who where not happy with the amount of time their agency allowed them at Machu Picchu (usually because they were based out of Cusco).

I don't personally use any of these agencies, I only see the recommendations here on Fodors.

long2travel

Yes Kathie, I agree about listening the first time but I will give them another shot. In his defense, he did say that they would do whatever we wanted. I think he chose one of their pre existing tours because not only was the itinerary different but not all of our hotel choices were included. Also, the tours were group tours. So we'll see. Luxury Peru Tours has been right on and quite responsive. Still haven't heard from Cusco Top Travel. Migb, as I learn more and more about everything we want to do on this trip who knows, maybe we will book ourselves. Better yet, maybe we'll hire you! : )