South America looks like an interesting place to visit. Unfortunately, I'm a bit of a chicken when it comes to traveling out of the United States. Ever see "Midnight Express", somehow that's how I would end up. I did go to Canada once, and I survived that, but I was nervous crossing the border.
You are free to do as you please of course. But I personally don't understand how some people can be so afraid to travel. My best friend and I used to travel quite a bit in the US. Now that he is married he wont go anywhere. His wife is staunchly opposed to traveling anywhere outside the US. She doesn't think it would be very "safe". I just think WTF whenever I am talking to her.
Now I am thinking that I just book the hotel room in Cusco for the first night. And then book a river rafting trip for 3 days. Machu Picchu for 2 days and then onto Manu for 3 days. I don't want to book my hotels for all nights right now because I would be locked down to stay where we are at. I'm sure it cant be that hard to book trips once I get into Cusco right?
If you can afford it, stay at the Inkaterra in Aguas Calientes. Do not stay at the hotel attached to the ruins, its a rip off.
