Peru 2 weeks w/ family, custom package vs. independent travel
 

Hi All,

Amazing amount of information I've got by reading the forum posts. Thanks to all.

We're a family of 4 in NJ, USA traveling to Peru for the fist time (kids are 13 and 10) on 3/23 for 12 days and 12 nights. A sudden decision left little time for planning. I planned our itinerary for the typical highlights MP, Paracas/Ballesta, Nazca, Arequipa/Colca.

I contacted some of the recommended travel agents in Peru and the US to organize our tour, and was surprised to get quotes around US $19,000 - $26,000, not including flights and many meals. We've never used a tour operator before, so maybe my ignorance is showing.

By my calculation, hotels come to around $4000 (we're happy with 3 star). We requested private van transport and bilingual guide for any attractions. It seems to me that if I plan this on my own - hiring cars and guides at each location and booking the tours, it should cost at most around $10,000. Am I missing something? Are package tours usually marked up so much? Any thoughts/recommendations are much appreciated.

That quotation does seem outrageous unless they are quoting for staying at THE best hotels etc. I never use tour operators but would have expected something in the region of $ 1000 per day for the whole family. Travelling independently would reduce this further but travelling with children and at short notice I fully understand your reasons your using a third party. I hesitate to recommend an operator as I have no first Han experience but it may be worth checking out one of the " small group tour operators" who will usually provide an exclusive trip for a family http://www.intrepidtravel.com/search...A%5B1+TO+30%5D

Other here have had good experiences with local operators, hopefully some wil chip in with their suggestions.

One other comment is that your itinerary does have a lot packed into it in 12 days and will involve a lot of travel time. Presumably you will be flying from place to place which is not cheap in Peru.

Hi DivyaBela!

I'd say yes, $19-26k seems far too high if not including international flights. More likely to be $12,000 - $16,000, assuming 2 rooms, most excursions, 3* hotels and all transportation beginning and ending from Lima. Of course it very much depends on the quality of the services but I'd be very happy to look in more detail and prepare a quotation for you.

One thing I would just caution relates to flights over Nazca. There have been serious safety concerns about the overflights which shouldn't be ignored. There is some conflict between UK government advice and the US government advice. The UK government advises against the flights, full stop. The US government says that flights coming out of Pisco (as opposed to Ica or Nazca) are safe. We have yet to fully satisfy ourselves that this is the case but it's important to be aware of these things.

Paracas/Ballestas make sense really only if you are heading to Ica/Nazca. My personal recommendation would be to go for a trip which combines Machu Picchu, Cusco, Lake Titicaca, Colca then Arequipa. This entire sweep around Southern Peru is done by train and road with fantastic landscapes & cultures and activities along the way - perfect for families.

If Nazca is important to you then consider this. There is a new flight service from Lima to Cusco which stops in Pisco for long enough to allow for an overflight of Nazca (in a smaller plane with panoramic windows). That is to say that you wake up in Lima, go to sleep in Cusco but have had a flight over the Nazca lines in between. Because the planes are larger and Pisco airport considered safe, by US government at least, this is probably a good compromise and means that you can 'have your cake and eat it' by including both Nazca and Lake Titicaca in a relatively short trip without it feeling rushed.

If you need more information on Peru (advises, activities, etc) please feel free to ask :)

Thomas

That does sound extremely expensive. I've worked with a company called Latin Destinations http://www.latindestinations.com/Peru_Vacations.aspx that does flexible packages to peru online, and they have an actual team on the ground in Peru. I would at least look at what they offer, it would only take a few minutes to compare. They also have an affiliated content site that is pretty informative, http://www.perutravelsource.com

Your itinerary sounds good, but I would caution not to spend much time in Nazca. There is nothing there but the lines, and the town is ratty. Conversely, I would spend as much time as possible on the Cusco, Sacred Valley, Machu Pichhu leg. There is an endless amount to see and do. The rest are really 1-2 day experiences. There are other fantastic Peruvian destinations, like Lake Titicaca, and Tambopata in the Amazon, but for a first trip with kids, I think you are on the right path. Also, don't forget Lima. If your a food buff it';s become the epicenter of cuisine in Latin America. I am confident you will love peru, and especially Mapi-Cusco-SV.

Check out www.andeantravelweb.com an independent non-travel agent site ( unlike at least one of the previous posters!) they do not sell tours and have nothing to sell and so provide some great current info on operators.

Hi, we are family of 4, children are 17 and 13. We are going to Peru in May. To see: MP, Cusco, Olla, Lake, Arequipa (without canion), Ica. Our budget = $2000. Hotels, transport, spendings.

Everyone is comfortable with a different level of planning. I find March 23 to be quite a long way off (we are going to Jordon next week and not much is reserved). You can always reserve first week activities and then do the rest down there. There will be a million people ready to help you for a fraction of $19k.

Having said this I understand people feel comfortable with set plans. On our trip to Peru one couple insisted on reserving everything months in advance.

We spent 12 days in Peru in April 2011, doing the Cusco/MP/Puno areas, with a couple of days in Lima. Mike of Peru Best Tours put our package together, we were extremely happy with all the arrangements. Can't remember how much we paid, but it was no where as expensive as your quote. You may want to email Mike at [email protected]

Thank you all for the responses. Actually, our trip is 14 days(I miscounted, if you can believe it!). I have heard back from some of the local independent guides recommended by this forum, and I think we'll be able to work out a nice compromise, with them making some of the arrangements, and us making some. I'll post an update once we finalize our plans...

Hi, if you are still looking, we used Aracari, and I cannot say enough good things about them. I was blown away by the level of service. It was about $1000 a day for three of us including 3 - 4 star hotels and even some lunches (they bought us lunch a couples of days, one day they sent a picnic, and one day arranged to eat with a local family!) this was Sacred Valley, Cusco, MP and lake Titicaca, but I think they are all over Peru. We booked through Frontier Travel here in the states.

You don't need to worry about Nazca anymore. I went this past fall and they have cleaned up their act.

To Colca Canyon, a good midrange operator is Giardino Tours based in Arequipa. There is also a high end lodge that is all inclusive. And Killawasi Lodge is a newish hotel that I liked in the town of Yanque (top of the canyon, not in the bottom like the lodge). Be careful with the altitude in Colca Canyon, it's just as high as Cusco.

I posted a separate question, but haven't got many responses. What do you all think about wiring money in advance and then carrying lots of US $ in cash to pay the local guides? That seems to be the standard method of payment which is making me very nervous...

In my experience, guides will accept soles, although it won't hurt to carry some cash--you'll need at least enough to pay the arrival and departure taxes, which have to be paid in dollars.

Here's the problem, though, so you can be prepared: No one likes big bills (i.e. 100 soles or greater) and so everyone pretends not to have change for them. So get rid of your big bills as soon as you can, which usually means going into the bank attached to the ATM and changing them for smaller bills and coins, using them to pay travel agents for stuff, etc.

Also very happy to hear that you're making your own plans. Be aware that if you book in country, it's much cheaper. There are lots and lots of travel agencies in every town with many different tours to offer.

When were you last in Peru, dwdvagamundo? There are NO arrival taxes. The departure taxes have been included in your tickets for a few years (there may be exceptions for some small regional airports but none of the major ones like Lima, Cusco or Arequipa.)

ATMs are wide spread. Even Aguas Calientes has two now. Credit cards are more and more accepted.

Most hotel reservations can now be made online without the need to wire money. Try booking.com, many Peruvian hotels are now on it or on sites like Expedia or hostelbookers. Some local chains have online booking with credit card (like Casa Andina). Others still take reservations by email and don't require a deposit.

The need to wire money is likely to be restricted to local agencies who don't want to pay credit card fees. You can either search the forums and see who is reliable, or I'd post a specific a name.

mlgb--do you disagree with my basic point that there is no need to bring or wire a lot of dollars as long as you have or can get relatively small bills and coins denominated in soles?

I admit it's been a while since I was there.

Was that your point?

There is no reason at all to carry large quantities of cash for every day purposes.

It also is less necessary to hoard small bills and change than in the past.

As far as paying for tours and guides, many do like to be paid in cash (and often USD) which can be difficult if you have daily limits on ATM withdrawals. It just depends on the vendor. Some now take Paypal or allow credit cards for deposits with an extra surcharge.

You do not need to carry much cash because you can use your debit or credit card at the bank atm´in Peru...Flash cash and you will be a victim or robbery...Also,there are many travel agencies once you arrive to Peru but you must beware..Just because they offer you a lower price it does not mean quality service. Rule of thumb you get what you pay for...