Hi mlgb, We arrive LIM from CUZ at 4:30 PM. Depart at 11:55 PM.

Looks like you have a number of suggestions but I wanted to add an unusual food one -it was one of our food highlights of the trip - while staying in the Sacred Valley my daughter and I had lunch at "Aida's House" - a private home that hosts lunches - a delightful and interesting couple - he is an artist - [so will surely have ideas for area's to photograph] the home is beautiful and the food is picked fresh from their perfect garden - it was one of the best meals we had in Peru and a very memorable experience. The email - [email protected] -
telephone 51-84-202003 Not sure if you are foodies but we also did a half day cooking class with Ricardo - owner of Tres Keros restaurant - Urubamba - including a visit to the market and a trout farm - way way up in the mountains - he is an "interesting character" so it was a fun filled experience. Peru is an incredible country - you will be blown away with all of the sites.

I will be there a week after you for my big birthday trip, bostonharbor. It sounds like a fantastic trip you have planned! I would definitely go see Lima in those 7 hours you have before your flight. Inkaterra, I'm jealous! lol....

pbphily, what a great suggestion for lunch a "Aida's House". That sounds wonderful. Thanks so much for the contact info. These are the tips that make the difference and make Fodors so incredible!

ncounty--and happy birthday to you as well : ) Enjoy your birthday trip.

In the continuuing effort to use my birthday as an excuse to upgrade, I decided to stay in a deluxe room at the new Aranwa Cusco that opened in October. http://link-url.com/G6U3E6 It actually isn't that much more than Casa Andina Private Collection and I'm keen to test the "intelligent oxygen system"

Thanks everyone for the information on Lima and the airport. I'm definately going to take a tour of Lima during our seven hour layover.

Your suggestions, links, and ideas have been priceless!

Aranwa looks amazing, bostonharbor! Wow, I think I'll take my cue from you and make many excuses all year to celebrate my birthday this year.

Boston Harbor- I have posted some questions on my upcoming trip here:

http://www.fodors.com/community/sout...-questions.cfm

As I am familiar with your travel style, I'd love some input, especially if you think I'd be better off using Riva for some of the details.
Thanks!

Boston Harbor -- your trip sounds amazing.

I'm currently researching a similar trip for October flying out of Boston. If you wouldn't mind sharing your airline choice, I'd love to know. Flights to Lima start at an amazingly low $300 on Spirit Air which sounds too good to be true. But, because of the awful reviews on Spirit, I'm inclined at the moment to go with Lan who can offer the entire route (Boston, Lima, Cusco, Puerto Maldenado) for about $1,500.

Hi Boston Harbor

I am so jealous!! ENJOY!! I wish that I didn't have to wait so long for our trip.


Hi Jackie

We are going to Peru in October 2011. It will be our birthday celebrations. My birthday (10/16) will be spent on MP. Ed BD is 10/31. We are also celebrating our 50th anniversary even though it is several months earlier in June 2011.

I am so excited!!

Brenda

Getting close Boston Harbor! I am excited for you. Looking forward to your trip report too!

lcuy, I'll mozy over to your questions right now. Sorry I'm so late. I came down with the flu-->pneumonia for the last five weeks, and I thought I might have to cancel the trip. A siege. But, I am almost fit as a fiddle and will be fine for next week.

Thanks to everyone for your input. I am so looking forward to this trip. I'll be leaving next Friday April 1.

Jackie, I'm flying LAN. I'm taking Jet Blue to NYC (ticketed separately) $109 round trip. And, I am flying Business class LAN NYC--> Lima-->Cusco. I was able to get business class for $2400...and, as I have mentioned about 10 times so far : ), it is, after all, my birthday. I thought that price for business class was excellent. (and I upgraded at InkaTerra just to put a cherry on the sundae, LOL)

I would book on LAN. Having connections via the same airline is always good and worth the extra money---in my book.

Oh, and I have been able to hire a photographer/guide for a private five hour tour of Machu Picchu. I want to find all the secret places : ) I'll let you know how he is so that if there are photographers in the forum who are interested.

I will post a trip report. Can't wait!

And, I hope all the other birthday girls enjoy their time in Peru as well : )

Oh, and I am doing a four hour city tour of Lima during my return layover--thanks everyone for the suggestion!

Thanks BH. I've almost accepted he high airfare cost and decided going with Lan would be the best option. Yesterday, coach was $1750 out of Boston (including domestic flights) and about $1250 out of NYC. Quite the difference!

Sounds like you have planned a wonderful time for yourself. Have a great birthday.

Last question. (or so I think : ) I know it is the just getting to the end of the rainy season and I should expect rain. Has anyone been in SV, Cusco, MP at the beginning of April? It looks cooler than I expected (the extended forecast has highs in the 47-50 degree F range) . I know that "previous performance does not insure future results", but what did you experience in terms of rain/sun/cold/heat?

I will bring layers and a light backpack to peel off layers during the day.

Thanks!

Happy Birthday - have fun on your trip. My bf and I are planning a trip for later this summer - excited to hear how yours went;-)

If you have a water proof outer layer like a rain jacket, wind breaker, poncho. Layers underneath should be fine.

Hi All, I'm sitting in the business class lounge at JFK watching all the world's airliners come in and out. I leave in a couple hours and will be in Peru tomorrow morning. I promise to write a trip report. Thanks again SOOO much for all your great ideas and tips. As they say....priceless : )

SO exciting, bh! I am leaving in 12 days and am starting to get nervous that I am not nearly prepared enough for this. Have a fantastic time!

Oh, I'm too late for you to see this, but BON VOYAGE! Can't wait to hear about this trip.

Your's too ncounty! I'm hoping to take advantage of being third this spring and reading your reports! 5.5 weeks till we go.

Boston Harbor I want to hear about your photography guide. I want to know whether it is worth using a guide or whether we should go it alone.

Thanks!

Hi Evamarie, I came home from my trip to land in the middle of my total kitchen renovation, so photos and trip report have been literally on the back burner (or lack thereof : )

I have some great photos (2000+ of them!) . The weather was perfect the entire time and we arrived at MP to a "National Geographic" perfect photo day. I was so happy!

I'm working on my photos and trip report this weekend and will start a trip report thread.

However, in answer to your specific guide question, the guide at MP was great for me. He took us out onto ledges and precipices where few tourists go. Great vistas for photos. I spent about four hours with the guide and then, while my friend hiked up to the Inca bridge with the guide, I went off by myself to the far corners of MP where there was nary a human, just an occasional random llama. It was perfect.