Peru November/early December where should I go?
 

Yay, I am headed back to Peru for trip #3 in mid November on FF miles! I need to quickly add an inbound city to my itinerary (I can have a domestic leg on LAN within 24 hours of my midnight arrival). Prior trips were to the northern Amazon (Iquitos), Cusco/SV/MP, & the north coast (Trujillo/Chiclayo). What areas would you nominate that I have missed, considering the weather that time of year, it sounds like the Cordillera Blanca/Huaraz isn't really a good destination although I'm still considering. I am leaning toward Arequipa, Chivay, Titicaca & back to the Sacred Valley. But maybe there is some favorite place of yours, a bit off the beaten path that I could add instead.

Definitely will be doing some days in Lima at the end (eating). If it makes a difference my Spanish fluency is intermediate and I will be traveling solo. I have about 2 weeks to play with (in addition to about 4 days at the end that I will be in Lima).

Thanks for all suggestions.

As stunningly beautiful as Huaraz and the Cordillera Blanca are, it'll be the off-season and a lot of places there just will not be open. I'd save that for a June/July/August trip.

The south is a good choice if you haven't been to that part of the country. Arequipa has a drier climate much like Lima's. Around Lake Titcaca, it will be very brisk, with some rain, but nothing like you'll see farther north in Cusco/SV/MP. I think it's doable that time of year.

Thanks Jeff.

You'll enjoy the south, mlgb, and for an experienced Peru traveler like you, it'll be a nice complement to the places you already know. :)

Just locked in my FF ticket all the way from LAX to AQP for 17,5K miles OW, can't pass that up.

I will be reading trip reports and be back with questions in a little bit, will start a new post.

Thanks again.

Nice choice MLGB if time might try to pick up some

BoliviaBella.com Tiwnaku Puma Punku a truly amazing

site 100 ton blocks bigger than the pyramids

built with perfect jointing on a site where a man has

trouble breathing and Salar is unlike anywhere else in the

world... www.mysteryperu.com AQP based agency good options

www.4m-express.com Chivay to Puno Ormeno to La Paz if time

Congrats & Happy Travels,

Puma Punku ruins, Tiahuanaco, Bolivia (courtesy of www.sacredsites.com and Martin Gray) ... Rather, the reason for the enduring mystery of ...
www.world-mysteries.com/mpl_6.htm

Thanks Qwo, Bolivia is near the top of my list, everyone I have met who has visited loved Bolivia, even La Paz.

Do I need to apply in advance for the visa or should I get it before leaving LA, they have an embassy here.

I really like the adventurous vibe of it even La Paz

There is a new movie coming out called "Marching Powder"

bout a Brit Cocaine dealer cum prison tour guide(Don Cheadle)

www.lokihostels.com or good hotels there are all fine

La Paz can get a little dodgy particularly from the cemetery

where some of the buses dump u to the bus station

seasoned travelers do not have problems

Usually get my visa B4 I leave to avoid border shakedowns..

On Ormeno they leave you alone usually sometimes crossing

solo off peak some guards run the "counterfeit USD" scam

they will demand to "Inspect" all your USD declare 100% bogus

and KEEP them... just run on clueless newbies usually.

But I make a point of only having soles in my wallet.

Usually put all my USD under my shoe inserts has always worked

fine there... travel.state.gov Bolivia good info on Visa.

Have a blast!

These newbies traveled to La Paz with a debit card big mistake

and got picked off in that area in 2006 very sad...

Upon arrival in La Paz, Peter and Katharina had fallen victim to a common ploy, in which several criminals cooperate to credibly trick their victims and kidnap them:
katharinaandpeter.info

But fine for experienced folks who keep their wits about them

http://www.amazon.com/Marching-Powde.../dp/0330419587

A cool travel read for me will be a movie produced by Brad Pitt

in 2012... you can actually tour the prison off and on at times

vodpod.com/watch/3119209-salar-de-uyuni-bolivia

Most unusual sureal place I have EVER been

VERY surreal like being on a different planet almost...