I'm probably heading there in mid October. The plan so far is to fly out of Lima as soon as we land and head to Cusco. From there head off to Macchu Picchu and Lake Titicaca. Any suggestions?
I haven't but my Co-worker is from there. Im sure he can tell you anything you need to know. Shoot me some questions and ill ask him for you. He sits directly next to me.
I haven't gone myself, but my business colleagues have visited in the past year. One strange thing he mentioned was that there is sometimes discrimination toward darker people and darker tourists at some of the night clubs and lounges in the big cities. The government has been trying to crack down on this discrimination. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/6281346.stm Another stranger thing he mentioned was that Peru has a big love affair with everything Bollywood, even though they don't speak the language.
Almost went last December. Was about to board the plane when my travel mate was refused due to the poor condition of his passport (accidentally washed it). I had everything booked. I was actually thinking about going in October as well but i'm not sure yet.
My roommate is from Lima, I've talked to her a little bit about Peru...the only thing I've really learned from her so far is that she hates Chile, thinks tennis is the only entertaining sport, and really wants to go to Macchu Picchu and Venezuela.
I went last November and really enjoyed it. The main thing is to plan to adjust to the alltitude in Cusco - you never know how it will affect you. I'm at work so I will try to post more this evening....
I can't tell you much about Cuzco but I can tell you about Lima. I've been to Lima several times and depending on where you go it is a beautiful city or incredibly dirty (but which city isn't). If you get a chance hang out in Miraflores and visit Larco Mar which is like a shopping, restaurant, clubbing center carved into the side of a cliff over looking the ocean. The beaches in Lima are not that nice but they work for surfing. From what I hear the nice beaches are further south. The food is really good there. I love Peruvian Ceviche and also the typical fair like Aji de Gallina (which you have to try). Also try the Peruvian National Drink called "Pisco." I really enjoyed it. The taxi system sucks because they have no taxi meters and you have to negotiate with the driver to take you often times with no idea of where the hell you are going or how much it should cost to get there so be expected to pay the typical "foreign accent tax." There are a ton of backpackers and tourists from all over the world largely Europeans and many hostels to stay at as well. Generally the percentage of attractive women is much lower than other Latin Cities however when you do see attractive women there they are usually really attractive. There is lots of other stuff as well so if you have any specific questions pertaining to Lima let me know and I will try to help you out.
Just had lunch with a friend who went to Peru about three years ago and made a point to do re-con for you... He gave the strongest recommendation he could give, as a traveler, to a hostel in Cusco called "Hostel de los Ninos." The even left Macchu Picchu a day early so they could return to Cusco and this particular hostel for another night. THIS INFORMATION HAS NOT BEEN VETTED BY EITHER THE OBAMA OR THE MCCAIN CAMPAIGNS
I went there with the family last year. If you're in relatively good shape, I highly recommend hiking the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu instead of just taking the train all the way there from Cusco. It's fairly strenuous, but some of the views you'll encounter on the way are unreal. I recommend using this tour company: http://www.sastravelperu.com/ If you do the long hike (4 days), you'll arrive at the Sun Gate in time to watch the sun rise over the Machu Picchu. It's absolutely amazing. There will be very few other tourists there so early in morning, so you'll be able to get some unadulterated pictures as well. The 2-day hike is supposed to be pretty good as well if sleeping in tents and not showering isn't your thing. You hike the first day to arrive at Machu Picchu in the evening, sleep in a hostel, and then go back the second day to tour the ruins. EDIT: Of course, if tours aren't your thing, you could always choose another trail and go by yourselves. I think the Inca Trail is federally regulated, and the only way to get passes is via a tour agency. Personally, I didn't mind having the local guide along with us while we were walking around on the steep mountain paths.
My tickets are booked. We are not spending anytime in Lima as I read its really not worth it or not something that specifically interests me. We fly straight to Cusco and I think we will spend five days there, but don't know what exactly to do. Macchu Picchu and white water rafting are obviously two things. Then maybe catch a train to Lake Titicaca for a 3 days. Can you ask your coworker if there is anything in particular in Cusco or Titicaca that I should watch out for. Areas to stay in. What to do?
Its pretty weird how Bollywood movies are popular in so many places. Russia, Africa, etc. But Peru would definitely be the weirdest.
I'm only there for a week, so I really don't want to spend four days hiking, but it sounds like an awesome thing to do.
Any suggestion on a tour into the Amazon? Ground transportation from Cusco Not tooooo expensive About 3 days
I did this trip (minus lake Titicaca) last November and had a terrific time. Peru Pictures Here You can read some of my e-mails from the trip as blogs at this site. You can see the pictures here as well. Basically you fly into Lima and then fly into Cusco. From Cusco you take a train to a town called Aqua Calliente. From Aqua Calliente you take a bus (really a shuttle bus) up to Machu Picchu. You can buy tickets to Machu Picchu and for the shuttle in Aqua Calliente. I had the travel agent that my hotel hooked me up with take care of the tickets ahead of time. I would recommend spending the night in Aqua Calliente to have two days at the site. If you just want to walk around then one afternoon is fine, however, I took the morning of day 1 to do a guided tour and used the afternoon to walk up to Inti Punku (about 2 miles). The next day I climbed up Huyana Picchu which is that mountain behind the ruins. Quick advice: 1. Book you train ticket to Machu Picchu either before you trip or have your hotel help you out right when you get there. 2. Stay overnight in Aqua Calliente so you get two days at Machu Picchu 3. On your first day at Machu Picchu hike up to Inti Punku 4. On your second day, get to Machu Picchu first thing in the AM (around 5AM) to catch the sunrise. Then spend the day hiking up Huayna Picchu. Then climb down the back of Huayna Picchu and visit the Temple of the Moon. 6. Take long pants and bug spray as I got bit by a lot of no-see-ums. 7. Take a day trip through the Urubamba Valley to visit Oyantaytambo, Chinchero, etc... I booked a trip via a tour company for $15. 8. Hire a taxi driver for the day (get help from your hotel) and visit more of the Urubamba Valley. 9. Drink coca leaf tea unless you are going to take a drug test soon after you get back. It doesn't get you high but does help with the altitude. Longer version: Day 1 - Flew from IAH to LIM via CO airlines. Because of a delayed flight I arrived around Midnight (instead of 10PM). This was good for me because I intended to spend the night in the Lima Airport waiting for my 6:15AM flight to Cusco. Waiting in the lobby at IAH was much nicer than waiting in the Lima airport. Day 2 - Flew from LIM to Cusco and was picked up at the airport by a taxi sent from my hotel. I've heard horror stories about the taxis in Peru so only take taxis that your hotel or travel agent arrange. Arrived at hotel (Casa San Blas) and pretty much crashed to recover from my sleepless night in the airport and to acclimate to the altitude. Princess Beatrice was checking out as I was checking in. Wandered around the main square that night and took photos. As soon as I arrived I had my hotel arrange for my trip to Machu Picchu with some travel agency. I would get this taken care of as soon as you get their (or earlier if you know your exact dates). Day 3 - Spent this day in Cusco visiting Quorencacha and some of the museums. Day 4 - Train to Machu Picchu. You leave in the AM and arrive around noon. We had a guided tour (since this was arranged by a travel agency instead of self booked) for the first couple of hours. After the tour I ate lunch and then walked to Inti Punku. Inti Punku is about 2 miles back up the Inca Trail. This was a nice walk offering terrific views plus it was almost deserted. I did this mostly by myself and really enjoyed it. When I got back I took the bus back down to Aqua Calliente and found my hotel room, got some dinner and crashed. Day 5 - Arrived back at the site around 5:30 am and it was covered in mist. Hiked up Huayna Picchu (that mountain you always see in the background) and then down the backside to the Temple of the Moon. This was tough as you are at about 9000 feet plus it is all just stairs straight up. But worth it. Took the train back to Cusco at around 3pm and arrived back around 10pm. Day 6 - Day trip to the Urubamba valley. This was a guided tour offered by the same people who arranged my Machu Picchu tickets. Day 7 - Hired the same taxi driver who picked me up at the airport for the day to take me back through some other sites in the Urubamba valley. Day 8 - Flew back to Lima and then back to the U.S.
Peru is awesome. In Lima, visit Miraflores and Barranco. There's lots to see and do, with casinos, lots of culture, and lots of nightlife. South of Lima is Nasca, where you can take an airplane up to view the Nasca Lines. I was unable to do this when I was there because a large earthquake had hit Nasca and the roads were closed as a result. Cusco is stunningly beautiful. See all that there is to see there. If you can, take a tour (hire a van) from there through the Sacred Valley to Ollentaytambo (sp?), and from there to Aquas Caliente, which is the village at the base of the mountain where Machu Picchu is perched, which is a ridiculously impressive, beautiful, and spiritual place. I'd recommend two full days at Machu Picchu: one for the guided tour and another all to yourself. On my second day, I sat at the edge of a cliff with my iPod and a journal and just wrote I felt and drew what I saw. Peru as a whole was easily one of my favorite places, and I've been lots of places. You ought to love it.
