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Started By
Message
2+ weeks in Peru and 7-10 days Galapagos Islands
Posted on 6/27/24 at 11:13 pm
Posted on 6/27/24 at 11:13 pm
Anyone done 2 weeks? Obviously, we'd go to Lima, Cusco, Sacred Valley, and Machu Picchu. Amazon would be another place we'd want to go. I'm not sure of the 4-day hike on the Inca Trail, although it does sound cool, I may not be up for it.
Looking for any recs, especially for Machu Picchu and accommodations, etc TIA
UPDATE: We are now flying in from ATL (after visiting NOLA) to LIM in LATAM Biz 3/31/25 and taking the same path home on 4/25/25. We land at 5:40am in Lima on the 1st and leave early enough on the 25th that I'd say we essentially have 24 days for this trip!
TIP: if you have AS miles, you can fly out of JFK or ATL to LIM and back for 35,000 miles each way in J.
Looking for any recs, especially for Machu Picchu and accommodations, etc TIA
UPDATE: We are now flying in from ATL (after visiting NOLA) to LIM in LATAM Biz 3/31/25 and taking the same path home on 4/25/25. We land at 5:40am in Lima on the 1st and leave early enough on the 25th that I'd say we essentially have 24 days for this trip!
TIP: if you have AS miles, you can fly out of JFK or ATL to LIM and back for 35,000 miles each way in J.
This post was edited on 7/4/24 at 6:51 pm
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Posted on 6/28/24 at 5:54 am to Sho Nuff
Never been, but it’s on the list. Post a review when you get back.
Enjoy!
Enjoy!
Posted on 6/28/24 at 8:13 am to Sho Nuff
Haven't done close to the trip you're planning but can help with any Lima food and drink recs you need.
Posted on 6/28/24 at 8:36 am to Sho Nuff
Posted on 6/28/24 at 8:44 am to Sho Nuff
quote:
I'm not sure of the 4-day hike on the Inca Trail, although it does sound cool, I may not be up for it.
A good buddy of mine and his wife, both in pretty decent shape, just did this a few weeks ago and he said it was tough. The altitude got to her when they got into Cusco the first night too. They did say it was amazing though and very worth it.
We were hoping to be able to go with them, but just couldn't make it work with some family things already scheduled.
This post was edited on 6/28/24 at 8:46 am
Posted on 6/28/24 at 9:44 am to Sho Nuff
I traveled the country for 17 days in 2017.
I posted some pics and comments in this thread on Peru last month.
I posted some pics and comments in this thread on Peru last month.
Posted on 6/28/24 at 9:22 pm to Suntiger
quote:
Never been, but it’s on the list. Post a review when you get back.
Enjoy!
Posted on 6/28/24 at 9:22 pm to hoopsgalore
quote:
Haven't done close to the trip you're planning but can help with any Lima food and drink recs you need.
Excellent, I will take any recs you can offer!
Posted on 6/28/24 at 9:23 pm to CharlieTiger
quote:
A good buddy of mine and his wife, both in pretty decent shape, just did this a few weeks ago and he said it was tough. The altitude got to her when they got into Cusco the first night too. They did say it was amazing though and very worth it.
Yeah, that's where I'm at. Plus 4 days knocked out just on the trail starts to make the rest of the trip tight.
Posted on 6/28/24 at 9:26 pm to Sho Nuff
I ate guinea pig in Lima. Tastes like duck. That’s all I got.
Posted on 6/28/24 at 9:34 pm to GOP_Tiger
quote:
I traveled the country for 17 days in 2017.
I posted some pics and comments in this thread on Peru last month.
Thanks, just checked that! I have been wanting to do Machu Picchu for a long time, so this will be special. I was looking at the trains from Cusco to MP last night. From basic to luxury, we liked the Vistadome ones that are nearly all windows. I found this 2 week itenrerary and wanted to hear your thoughts. It's obviously a tour company, but we'd venture out on our own mostly, but the places seem to match what we want to do. My only beef is I want to spend more time in SV and MP, so we'd do less time in the jungle or skip something altogether:
Day 1 Arrival in Lima Lima
Day 2 Lima City & Food Tour Lima
Day 3 Arrival in Arequipa & Arequipa City Tour Arequipa
Day 4 Colca Canyon Tour: Arequipa - Chivay - Cabanaconde Cabanaconde
Day 5 Colca Canyon & Puno Arrival Puno
Day 6 Lake Titicaca: Taquile - Uros Floating Islands - Puno Puno
Day 7 Arriving in Cusco: Puno - Cusco Cusco
Day 8 Tour the Sacred Valley: Cusco - Pisac - Ollantaytambo Ollantaytambo
Day 9 Maras & Moray Tour Urubamba
Day 10 Machu Picchu Excursion: Ollantaytambo - Machu Picchu - Cusco Cusco
Day 11 Into the Amazon: Cusco - Puerto Maldonado - Refugio Amazonas Lodge Puerto Maldonado
Day 12 Jungle Excursions - Farm, Dugout Canoe Tour, Fitzcarrald Puerto Maldonado
Day 13 Jungle Excursions - Tres Chimbadas, Parrot Clay Lick, Botany Tour Puerto Maldonado
Day 14 Depart from Puerto Maldonado & Lima
This post was edited on 6/28/24 at 9:36 pm
Posted on 6/29/24 at 5:00 am to Sho Nuff
It's not a bad plan at all. It follows the traditional "gringo route" by bus. You could alter it with stops in Huacachina and/or Nazca if you like.
I'm not familiar with Puerto Maldonado and that section of the rainforest, but again, the reason that it's in their itinerary is that it's accessible by bus.
That's part of why the north doesn't get nearly as many tourists -- the south gets them because it's the bus route to Cuzco and the Sacred Valley.
I'm not familiar with Puerto Maldonado and that section of the rainforest, but again, the reason that it's in their itinerary is that it's accessible by bus.
That's part of why the north doesn't get nearly as many tourists -- the south gets them because it's the bus route to Cuzco and the Sacred Valley.
Posted on 6/29/24 at 9:12 am to Sho Nuff
La Carreta was a killer steak. It's in San Isidro neighborhood.
Posted on 6/29/24 at 2:13 pm to GOP_Tiger
quote:
GOP_Tiger
I noticed a lot of these tour companies only seem to do one day in Machu Picchu. Is that really all you need? I feel like I've been wanting to go to see this site for so long that I would feel rushed.
Posted on 6/29/24 at 7:34 pm to Sho Nuff
Since I was in Machu Picchu in 2017, I think that they have changed the admission system to limit times, more, so maybe someone else can help with that.
But I would say that the ruins of the city itself only take an hour or less to fully see. We also walked to the Sun Gate, which is a pretty decent walk, and then to the Inca Bridge, which was another walk, and then we climbed up Machu Picchu Mountain, which was about an hour.
All of those were very much worth doing. You should definitely either hike up Machu Picchu Mountain or Huayna Picchu, as the views are spectacular and would be great even without looking down on the ruins below.
But we had gotten on the first bus (at something like 5:00 am), and so we were dead tired by 2:00 PM and felt as though we had seen the site thoroughly, so we took the late afternoon train back to Cuzco.
So, to directly answer your question, one day at Machu Picchu was plenty for us.
But you will want at least two days to see the other ruins in the Sacred Valley, such as Ollantaytambo, Pisac, Saqsaywaman, etc., and Cuzco is worth a day.
Of our 17 days, we spent just 4 in Cuzco, Machu Picchu, and the Sacred Valley. That was fine, but if I could do the trip over again, I would probably add a fifth day to see more ruins (for example, we didn't get to see the salt mines), and just to take things easier.
But I would say that the ruins of the city itself only take an hour or less to fully see. We also walked to the Sun Gate, which is a pretty decent walk, and then to the Inca Bridge, which was another walk, and then we climbed up Machu Picchu Mountain, which was about an hour.
All of those were very much worth doing. You should definitely either hike up Machu Picchu Mountain or Huayna Picchu, as the views are spectacular and would be great even without looking down on the ruins below.
But we had gotten on the first bus (at something like 5:00 am), and so we were dead tired by 2:00 PM and felt as though we had seen the site thoroughly, so we took the late afternoon train back to Cuzco.
So, to directly answer your question, one day at Machu Picchu was plenty for us.
But you will want at least two days to see the other ruins in the Sacred Valley, such as Ollantaytambo, Pisac, Saqsaywaman, etc., and Cuzco is worth a day.
Of our 17 days, we spent just 4 in Cuzco, Machu Picchu, and the Sacred Valley. That was fine, but if I could do the trip over again, I would probably add a fifth day to see more ruins (for example, we didn't get to see the salt mines), and just to take things easier.
Posted on 6/29/24 at 8:54 pm to GOP_Tiger
Thanks. Yeah, I'm thinking of so far without a lot of planning:
1-2 days Lima
3-4 days Cusco inc Rainbow Mountain & Titicaca
3-4 days SV & MP inc Maras and Moray
2-3 days Amazon
I saw you post in another thread about Galapagos Islands and I'm considering extending our trip out 5-7 days to go there. My wife has been wanting to go. Your thoughts on doing 3 weeks with all of this?
1-2 days Lima
3-4 days Cusco inc Rainbow Mountain & Titicaca
3-4 days SV & MP inc Maras and Moray
2-3 days Amazon
I saw you post in another thread about Galapagos Islands and I'm considering extending our trip out 5-7 days to go there. My wife has been wanting to go. Your thoughts on doing 3 weeks with all of this?
Posted on 6/30/24 at 5:11 am to Sho Nuff
Personally, I would save the Galapagos for its own trip. I was there seven nights and would have loved a couple more. I can't really imagine going for less time, especially now that the entrance fee goes up to $200 per person in August.
Posted on 6/30/24 at 2:00 pm to Sho Nuff
quote:
one day in Machu Picchu
Our 1st day at MP was with our guide. Then we enjoyed a 2nd day on our own taking more time at buildings that interested us.
Be careful with the altitude. Personally, I'm a bit fatigued for about one day in Denver at only 5000ft. It seems that Lake Titicaca on day 7 is your highest point at ~ 12000ft. That gives you some time to adjust. You go down from there. MP is only 8000.
You will be offered coca tea often, and restaurants often have a basket of coca leaves by the register. It's legal. I partook and had no altitude problems even in Cusco. Maybe tea and leaves helped me. Sip the tea and chew the leaves.
If you face drug testing at work, skip the coca. I'm told that use can produce a positive test up to 2 weeks later.
Gut problems are common (twice in 3 weeks). Carry Imodium and a broad-spectrum antibiotic. In hotels you often see room service delivering bowls of plain boiled rice to rooms.
Posted on 6/30/24 at 2:41 pm to GOP_Tiger
quote:
I was there seven nights and would have loved a couple more. I can't really imagine going for less time, especially now that the entrance fee goes up to $200 per person in August.
We're traveling from Hawaii so it's a long trip. If we do it we'll do a full week, but yeah it feels like a big add-on. 2 weeks Peru and 1 week Galapagos sounds nice though.
This post was edited on 6/30/24 at 2:47 pm
Posted on 6/30/24 at 2:43 pm to Tree_Fall
quote:
Our 1st day at MP was with our guide. Then we enjoyed a 2nd day on our own taking more time at buildings that interested us.
I feel like that might be my plan too. Coming all this way, been thinking of doing MP for this many years and to just go for a few hours feels like we'll be on the train leaving saying, "wait did we just see Machu Picchu?"
Thanks for the other tips. I lived in Thailand for about 8 months and got gut rot pretty bad. We just got back from S. Africa so we had those same items. I still have the anti-biotic from the pharmacy for one time-use
This post was edited on 6/30/24 at 2:48 pm
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