need help with my Peru Itinerary : Cusco, Puno Arequipa
Nov 5th, 2017, 06:37 PM
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need help with my Peru Itinerary : Cusco, Puno Arequipa
I am about to leave for Peru in 10 days, and I still can't finalise my itinerary. I would love some insights!
Basically I am torn between spending more time in Cusco, or spend a day in Arequipa. We won't be able to do Colca Canyon as time won't allow for it (ok, I could but it will be too much after much consideration, as we will have very little sleep). Will be travelling on Peru Hop.
Option 1:
Day 1: arrive Lima, (connection to Cusco) afternoon: *Cusco, visit ruins nearby
Day 2: Sacred Valley: Pisac ruin, Ollantaytambo, train to MP
Day 3: MP
Day 4: Scared Valley: Moray, Moras, Chincheron
Day 5: trek
Day 6: trek
Day 7: trek
Day 8: *full day Cusco
Day 9: *full day Cusco -- (10pm bus to Puno)
Day 10: 6am Puno, airBnB on Uros island
Day 11: Lake tour, with homestay
Day 12: finish tour (9:30pm depart Puno and onward journey to coast)
Day 13: Nazca
Or alternatively, I can drop one day of Cusco city, just to squeeze in Arequipa city (no Colca)
Option 2:
Day 1: arrive Lima, connection to Cusco. afternoon: *Cusco, visit ruins nearby
Day 2: Sacred Valley: Pisac ruin, Ollantaytambo, train to MP
Day 3: MP
Day 4: Scared Valley: Moray, Moras, Chincheron
Day 5: trek
Day 6: trek
Day 7: trek
Day 8: *full day Cusco -- (10pm bus to Puno)
Day 9: 6am Puno, airBnB on Uros island
Day 10: Lake tour, with homestay
Day 11: finish tour (9:30pm depart Puno)
Day 12: 5:30am arrive Arequipa. Full day in Arequipa
Day 13: 6am depart Arequipa, to Nazca
I want to stay one night on the reed island relaxing after my trek, so I don't want to give it up to trade for Colca.
What do you guys think. Considering I already allowed time for Scared Valley, is 2.5 days in Cusco city too much? Or is 1.5 days in Cusco sufficient?
Thank you!
Basically I am torn between spending more time in Cusco, or spend a day in Arequipa. We won't be able to do Colca Canyon as time won't allow for it (ok, I could but it will be too much after much consideration, as we will have very little sleep). Will be travelling on Peru Hop.
Option 1:
Day 1: arrive Lima, (connection to Cusco) afternoon: *Cusco, visit ruins nearby
Day 2: Sacred Valley: Pisac ruin, Ollantaytambo, train to MP
Day 3: MP
Day 4: Scared Valley: Moray, Moras, Chincheron
Day 5: trek
Day 6: trek
Day 7: trek
Day 8: *full day Cusco
Day 9: *full day Cusco -- (10pm bus to Puno)
Day 10: 6am Puno, airBnB on Uros island
Day 11: Lake tour, with homestay
Day 12: finish tour (9:30pm depart Puno and onward journey to coast)
Day 13: Nazca
Or alternatively, I can drop one day of Cusco city, just to squeeze in Arequipa city (no Colca)
Option 2:
Day 1: arrive Lima, connection to Cusco. afternoon: *Cusco, visit ruins nearby
Day 2: Sacred Valley: Pisac ruin, Ollantaytambo, train to MP
Day 3: MP
Day 4: Scared Valley: Moray, Moras, Chincheron
Day 5: trek
Day 6: trek
Day 7: trek
Day 8: *full day Cusco -- (10pm bus to Puno)
Day 9: 6am Puno, airBnB on Uros island
Day 10: Lake tour, with homestay
Day 11: finish tour (9:30pm depart Puno)
Day 12: 5:30am arrive Arequipa. Full day in Arequipa
Day 13: 6am depart Arequipa, to Nazca
I want to stay one night on the reed island relaxing after my trek, so I don't want to give it up to trade for Colca.
What do you guys think. Considering I already allowed time for Scared Valley, is 2.5 days in Cusco city too much? Or is 1.5 days in Cusco sufficient?
Thank you!
Nov 5th, 2017, 10:27 PM
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Believe me, a reed island on Titicaca is not the place to relax after a trek, much less an overnight bus journey.
I have visted both Titicaca and Arequipa several times and Arequipa wins hands down. Uros is very much a tourist trap these days. Colca Canyon, on te other hand is magnificent..
I woul seriously recommend a rethink and drop Puno in favour of flying or bussing to Arequipa and adding a couple of days in the Canyon. JMO.
I have visted both Titicaca and Arequipa several times and Arequipa wins hands down. Uros is very much a tourist trap these days. Colca Canyon, on te other hand is magnificent..
I woul seriously recommend a rethink and drop Puno in favour of flying or bussing to Arequipa and adding a couple of days in the Canyon. JMO.
Nov 6th, 2017, 12:10 PM
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Crellston, thanks for the input! After my trek, I don't look forward to busy itinerary and that's why I dropped colca canyon, which requires 3:30am tour... I am interested in seeing Arequipa monestery though. I guess after I saw some photos of waking up on the lake, I couldn't shake it out of my head, haha and staying with a homestay sounds cool too! Really hard to make the decision.
Nov 7th, 2017, 09:25 PM
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Dana, there is no doubt that the lake is spectacular, sadly Uros is not. There are some photos of Arequipa ( inc. the fantastic Santa Catalina convent) and Colca in te Peruvian section of our blog @ https://accidentalnomads.com/category/peru/.
You say you don’t look forward to a busy intinerary, in which case I would rethink the two overnight bus trips you have in quick succession. Unless you are one of those very lucky people who can sleep anywhere, don’t expect too much sleep!
Whatever, you decide, have a great time, it is an incredible corner of the world
You say you don’t look forward to a busy intinerary, in which case I would rethink the two overnight bus trips you have in quick succession. Unless you are one of those very lucky people who can sleep anywhere, don’t expect too much sleep!
Whatever, you decide, have a great time, it is an incredible corner of the world
Nov 8th, 2017, 05:02 PM
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Crellston, I read through your blog! Can't believe you went to Taiwan, my birth country! It's so under the radar in terms of destinations, so I am so happy to see you enjoyed your time there. Summer is brutal though even for Taiwanese. I am impressed you covered so many places. Amazing!
I can't get away with the overnight bus as I booked Peru Hop.... And I have decided to stay only one night at lake titicaca, instead of 2. This will give me one day in Arequipa. No colca canyon as I feel I will need two days there. I am left to decide to do homestay on amantani (mixed review if the host is not friendly) or bnb on Uros island. The pictures of staying right on the lake look pretty cool, and looks like a unique experience. Too bad I can't have more days...
I can't get away with the overnight bus as I booked Peru Hop.... And I have decided to stay only one night at lake titicaca, instead of 2. This will give me one day in Arequipa. No colca canyon as I feel I will need two days there. I am left to decide to do homestay on amantani (mixed review if the host is not friendly) or bnb on Uros island. The pictures of staying right on the lake look pretty cool, and looks like a unique experience. Too bad I can't have more days...
Nov 9th, 2017, 03:45 PM
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We really loved Taiwan and are already thinking about returning. Even with the language barriers, the people were so welcoming and there is just so much to see and the food!!!!
Don’t get me wrong, Titicaca is amazing and we have visited twice on the Peruvian side and twice on the Bolivian side. It is just that Uros is a bit like Disneyland. It has quadrupled in size in the 8 years between our two visits. Amantani / Tacquile perhaps less so. For me the best part was just sailing out across the lake to Tacquile and back for the day. We intended to stay overnight but my wife was sick that day.
Don’t get me wrong, Titicaca is amazing and we have visited twice on the Peruvian side and twice on the Bolivian side. It is just that Uros is a bit like Disneyland. It has quadrupled in size in the 8 years between our two visits. Amantani / Tacquile perhaps less so. For me the best part was just sailing out across the lake to Tacquile and back for the day. We intended to stay overnight but my wife was sick that day.
