I'll be going to Peru in early August. I was supposed to go in September of 2001, but the terrorist attacks got that trip canceled. I'll obviously hit Cuzco, Machu Picchu, the Sacred Valley, and whatever else qualifies as a tourist attraction. Any thoughts or advice re: culture, weather, nightlife, exotic food (I'll try anything once), coping with the thin air, etc? Do those Incas have an equivalent to Montezuma's Revenge? Can I drink the water? I don't want to spend the trip with the dooks, that's for damn sure. This is my first time in South America. After this, I'll have been to five of the seven continents at least once, leaving only Australia and Antarctica. While I'd love to visit the Aussies some day, I dunno about the penguins in the other place. Thanks in advance for any thoughts or advice!
No ideas, but I had begun planning a trip two years ago and had to cancel. I may go next year. I want to go hiking in the Andes, so I guess you are looking at a different kind of trip.
I don't know if there is anything formal, but I do know of people who ahve done the Inca trail, for example, and had some serious stomach problems - hence obviously making the trip a little more memorable, just not in a good way. If you don't have to, I wouldn't take any risks in regards to water. I've personally never been but would love to do the trip you seem to have planned.
Chan Chan and the Nazca Lines are some other sites you might want to check out. I also have heard that there are some world class rapids near the Sacred valley. As far as dining goes try the Guinea Pig, I hear it's a delicacy
I'm sure we'll do hiking of some sort, just not in the traditional sense of back-packing up a mountain trail. I'll be there with my mom, aunt and uncle, and another female family friend. They are all 50+ in age. My cousin is 21, and I'm 31, so we'll be the only young, single males on the trip. I'm sure we'll find some trouble to get into.
