shoonye

We are getting ready for our 3 week trip to Peru and Chile. Our itinerary is provided below with dates. We are just now (rather late) beginning to think of what we should or should not pack. Two of our particular concerns are

a) What type of cold weather outerwear should we carry. We want to travel as light as possible and depend on layering. But given we are visiting the Atacama and the Andes I'm not sure if we should bring along some of our heavier wear for these fall months (Apr/May), particularly for our 3 yr old

b) Our 3 yr old is getting by fine without strollers but she does need it on days that involve a lot of city walking and tends to take a 2 hour nap in the afternoon while we do our own thing. Would an umbrella stroller really work out at the destinations below or are we better off without it (and should plan to be back in the hotel for the afternoon nap)

Our Itinerary

4/19/2012 Fly to Santiago from JFK
4/20/2012 Arrive in Santiago
4/21/2012 Santiago
4/22/2012 Morning flight to Atacama
4/23/2012 Atacama (puritama hot springs, spaceobs star watch)
4/24/2012 Atacama (lagunas altiplanicas tour)
4/25/2012 Bus to Valparaiso from Santiago airport
4/26/2012 Valparaiso
4/27/2012 Santiago
4/28/2012 Fly to Easter Island
4/29/2012 Easter Island
4/30/2012 Easter Island
5/1/2012 Easter Island
5/2/2012 Fly to Lima
5/3/2012 Arequipa
5/4/2012 Bus to Chivay.
5/5/2012 Visit Colca in the morning. Bus to Puno
5/6/2012 Puno (Uros and Taquile tour)
5/7/2012 Bus To Cusco
5/8/2012 Taxi to Olly (via Pisac). Train to Aguas Calientes
5/9/2012 Visit MP. Train to Olly
5/10/2012 Olly
5/11/2012 Taxi to Cusco (via Chinchero, Moray)
5/12/2012 Cusco
5/13/2012 Fly to Lima
5/14/2012 Fly to SFO late night

mlgb

In a city taxis are widely available and not expensive. I wouldn't bring the stroller, more trouble than it's worth. If tired, take a time out at a local cafe.
At high altitudes (including Atacama and your entire trip from Chivay thru to Cusco) a windproof jacket with a warm lining, or a shell and a thermal fleece jacket. Buy your hats gloves and scarves as souvenirs. Lima tends to be grey and drippy in May if the fog is in.

Huentetu

i would take the stroller if it is a simple umbrella type one. It will be useful for city walking and the hills in Valparaiso.

As for clothes in Chile, the Atacama desert is warm during the day and in the sunlight but very cold at night. So warm jackets (fleece) and something for your heads. At the moment Santiago is very hot for the time of year, but you never know when that will suddenly change. The same fleece jackets will do for early morning or evening. It is cooler on the coast and mornings can be misty and drizzly in Valparaiso.

There is no bus directly from the airport to Valparaiso. You take an airport bus, preferably Turbus, to the Pajaritos metro/bus station and get a bus from there. Buses have their destinations in the front window and leave very frequently.

shoonye

Thanks much mlgb and Huentutu. This is helpful.