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Peru....who's been?
Posted on 4/20/16 at 8:07 pm
Posted on 4/20/16 at 8:07 pm
Heading to Peru on May 8th. Doing Machu Picchu of course, and a few other things on our 9 day trek.
Any suggestions, advice, tips, etc?
Tia
Any suggestions, advice, tips, etc?
Tia
4
Posted on 4/21/16 at 10:03 am to rintintin
I went 2 years ago. Are you trekking the Incan trail or just taking the bus from Aguas Calientes?
We flew into Lima, spent a couple of days there then flew to Cuzco. That was our main jumping off point for the different tours we did. I think we spent 3 or 4 days there then took the train to Aguas Calientes. While there, don't eat anywhere that has someone standing on the sidewalk advertising their "deals." You will get ripped off. I think we had 2 days there before going to Machu Picchu. From there we went back to Cuzco for another day or so before heading back home.
When I go back, I'll spend 1 day max in Lima and the rest of the time in Cuzco, unless I hike the trail. If you just take the bus to Machu Picchu, definitely hike up to the sun gate for some great pictures and climb Huayana Picchu if you aren't a huge puss that's scared of heights like me.
I loved the food pretty much everywhere we ate (try the guinea pig). The altitude messed with me when I first got to Cuzco, but the coca tea definitely helps. You can get alpaca sweaters, scarfs, socks, etc for pretty cheap so take advantage if you are into that.
Let me know if you have any specific questions.
We flew into Lima, spent a couple of days there then flew to Cuzco. That was our main jumping off point for the different tours we did. I think we spent 3 or 4 days there then took the train to Aguas Calientes. While there, don't eat anywhere that has someone standing on the sidewalk advertising their "deals." You will get ripped off. I think we had 2 days there before going to Machu Picchu. From there we went back to Cuzco for another day or so before heading back home.
When I go back, I'll spend 1 day max in Lima and the rest of the time in Cuzco, unless I hike the trail. If you just take the bus to Machu Picchu, definitely hike up to the sun gate for some great pictures and climb Huayana Picchu if you aren't a huge puss that's scared of heights like me.
I loved the food pretty much everywhere we ate (try the guinea pig). The altitude messed with me when I first got to Cuzco, but the coca tea definitely helps. You can get alpaca sweaters, scarfs, socks, etc for pretty cheap so take advantage if you are into that.
Let me know if you have any specific questions.
Posted on 4/21/16 at 10:06 pm to rintintin
Went in September for 11 days. Spent 4 days in Lima and then flew to Cuzco for 4 days and then back to Lima.
We waited until the third day to go to machu pichu so we were acclimated to the altitude. Cuzco is higher than machu pichu so after 2 days you should be fine. I took an altitude sickness pill and still felt really lightheaded an hour or two after landing but was fine after the first night. Don't drink alcohol your first night in Cuzco.
Cuzco is a cool town, a little touristy, but a beautiful square with 2 historic cathedrals.
We took the train to Agus Calientes. The ride was beautiful, I think I took more pics than at MP itself. I recommend doing the 2nd most expensive rail option with Rail Peru. The cheapest doesn't have a good view from the cars and the expensive, Hiram Bingam is a waste of money since you're so exhausted on the ride back (it's about 3.5 hours each way). The middle option is still very nice and serves a meal on each trip.
Lima is a great city. We stayed in the Miraflores area 2 blocks from the Pacific. We rented an apt with a balcony it was great.
The food in Peru is outstanding, ceviche, lomo saltado, anticucho, Aji de Gallina, pollo la brasa with salsa verde, lucomo ice cream is the best. And of course try some cuy)guinea pig).
If you want to eat like a true local go to a Chifa restaurant. It's Chinese-Peruvian and is surprisingly good.
Drink lots of pisco sours and Cuzquena beer, but be mindful of the elevation.
Also, there's a great family owned shoe store near the Capitol building in Lima They hand make dress shoes and boots. The shop is ran by an LSU alum from Peru. L. Vallejo is the name. Ask for Leonids and tell him you're from LSU and he'll take care of you and tell you stories of his undergrad days.
Edit: here's a link to a thread about the store in Lima LINK
We waited until the third day to go to machu pichu so we were acclimated to the altitude. Cuzco is higher than machu pichu so after 2 days you should be fine. I took an altitude sickness pill and still felt really lightheaded an hour or two after landing but was fine after the first night. Don't drink alcohol your first night in Cuzco.
Cuzco is a cool town, a little touristy, but a beautiful square with 2 historic cathedrals.
We took the train to Agus Calientes. The ride was beautiful, I think I took more pics than at MP itself. I recommend doing the 2nd most expensive rail option with Rail Peru. The cheapest doesn't have a good view from the cars and the expensive, Hiram Bingam is a waste of money since you're so exhausted on the ride back (it's about 3.5 hours each way). The middle option is still very nice and serves a meal on each trip.
Lima is a great city. We stayed in the Miraflores area 2 blocks from the Pacific. We rented an apt with a balcony it was great.
The food in Peru is outstanding, ceviche, lomo saltado, anticucho, Aji de Gallina, pollo la brasa with salsa verde, lucomo ice cream is the best. And of course try some cuy)guinea pig).
If you want to eat like a true local go to a Chifa restaurant. It's Chinese-Peruvian and is surprisingly good.
Drink lots of pisco sours and Cuzquena beer, but be mindful of the elevation.
Also, there's a great family owned shoe store near the Capitol building in Lima They hand make dress shoes and boots. The shop is ran by an LSU alum from Peru. L. Vallejo is the name. Ask for Leonids and tell him you're from LSU and he'll take care of you and tell you stories of his undergrad days.
Edit: here's a link to a thread about the store in Lima LINK
This post was edited on 4/21/16 at 10:13 pm
Posted on 4/22/16 at 6:00 am to rintintin
We're going at the end of June. Shopping for backpacks and hiking shoes, if you've got any recs for good deals.
Posted on 4/22/16 at 2:05 pm to Vrai
quote:
Are you trekking the Incan trail or just taking the bus from Aguas Calientes?
We're just taking the bus from Aguas Calientes.
Our loose itinerary looks something like:
3 nights in Cusco
1 night in Aguas Calientes (2 days at Machu Picchu)
2 nights in Lima (Barranco district)
1 night in Ica (where we'll be dune boarding in Huacachina)
quote:
If you just take the bus to Machu Picchu, definitely hike up to the sun gate for some great pictures and climb Huayana Picchu if you aren't a huge puss that's scared of heights like me.
Thanks for the advice. We were going to do Huayana Picchu but the tickets are already sold out, so we're doing Machu Picchu Montana instead, which I hear is a longer hike but less crowded and similar if not better views.
quote:
The altitude messed with me when I first got to Cuzco, but the coca tea definitely helps
Did you take any altitude meds?
Posted on 4/22/16 at 2:09 pm to RedFoxx
quote:
Don't drink alcohol your first night in Cuzco.
That's gonna be tough on our first night. quote:
recommend doing the 2nd most expensive rail option with Rail Peru. The cheapest doesn't have a good view from the cars
Pretty sure we're on the cheap one. The "expedition" through Peru Rail.
quote:
If you want to eat like a true local go to a Chifa restaurant. It's Chinese-Peruvian and is surprisingly good.
Drink lots of pisco sours and Cuzquena beer, but be mindful of the elevation.
Also, there's a great family owned shoe store near the Capitol building in Lima They hand make dress shoes and boots. The shop is ran by an LSU alum from Peru. L. Vallejo is the name. Ask for Leonids and tell him you're from LSU and he'll take care of you and tell you stories of his undergrad days.
Awesome, thanks for the advice. I'll definitely try to hit up Leonidas.
Do any of ya'll speak Spanish? And if not, how easy was it to get around without it.
Posted on 4/22/16 at 3:53 pm to rintintin
Took no meds. Got light headed a couple of times while walking through town but it was very minor and stopping for just a minute cleared it up. I drank, fyi
Posted on 4/22/16 at 7:13 pm to rintintin
Drink a lot of water in Cusco
Stay at kokopeli hostel in Cusco if under 25yrs old
Consider Salkantay Trail over Inca Trail
Eat Alpaca
Wake up early to see sunrise over Machu Pichu
Always carry some toilet paper
Always be aware of your surroundings
Eat at Maido and Central Restaurants in Lima. Top 20 restaurants worldwide
Stay at kokopeli hostel in Cusco if under 25yrs old
Consider Salkantay Trail over Inca Trail
Eat Alpaca
Wake up early to see sunrise over Machu Pichu
Always carry some toilet paper
Always be aware of your surroundings
Eat at Maido and Central Restaurants in Lima. Top 20 restaurants worldwide
This post was edited on 4/22/16 at 7:19 pm
Posted on 4/22/16 at 8:27 pm to Vrai
quote:
I loved the food pretty much everywhere we ate (try the guinea pig).
I was engaged to a woman from Peru and they can cook like you wouldn't believe. Never did get to try guinea pig (though she swore up and down it was the greatest thing in the world).
She was also very good in bed... but that might have been because she was bat-shite crazy.
As for altitude, according to an episode of Top Gear I watched Viagra is supposed to help with that for some odd reason.
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