Discussion
Thought I'd copy the Mexico thread's format 
Anyway, I have 3.5 weeks booked off work mid Sept-mid Oct so fancy a foreign wander. Top of my shortlist at the moment is South America. I've been looking at Inca Trail websites and it looks like an awesome thing to do.
Anyone done it? I'm intending to book the actual trek over there since the flight/trek packages look extortionate.
How easy is it to travel on from Cusco? Intending to fly into Lima but would like to go on elsewhere afterwards, maybe a neighbouring country or similar. Flights to Lima and back coming out about £600, although most seem to go through mainland US which seems a pain!
Ideas people, ideas please!
Anyway, I have 3.5 weeks booked off work mid Sept-mid Oct so fancy a foreign wander. Top of my shortlist at the moment is South America. I've been looking at Inca Trail websites and it looks like an awesome thing to do.
Anyone done it? I'm intending to book the actual trek over there since the flight/trek packages look extortionate.
How easy is it to travel on from Cusco? Intending to fly into Lima but would like to go on elsewhere afterwards, maybe a neighbouring country or similar. Flights to Lima and back coming out about £600, although most seem to go through mainland US which seems a pain!
Ideas people, ideas please!
I flew KLM via Amsterdam, think you may be able to fly Iberia via Madrid too. Also seem to recall there only being a limited number of tickets available for the trail and would imagine the organized tour operators snap all of these up.
Someone who knows more will be along soon.
p.s. If you fly KLM they stop for a refuel in one of the French Antiles, maybe Barbuda, which you can stop over free of charge. Shame I didn't realise when I went.
Someone who knows more will be along soon.
p.s. If you fly KLM they stop for a refuel in one of the French Antiles, maybe Barbuda, which you can stop over free of charge. Shame I didn't realise when I went.
Thanks all, I've really started looking into it now (despite being slightly concerned by the FCO website!) and am getting quite excited.
I'm a big fan of train journeys overseas and there are actually a few to do in Peru it seems. Sadly the Lima-Huancayo train, which looks utterly epic, runs so infrequently I'll probably miss out, however I've devised a potential alternative route.
(Either way round, but probably Lima-Cuzco as the flights look more expensive the other way).
Lima- Couple of days acclimatisation
Travel down the coast, this bit will probably take up a week and a half or so.
National Parks near Pisco
Nazca Lines
Arequipa
Puno (For Lake Titicaca)
Train up to Cuzco (This bit looks epic). Couple of days acclimatisation
Train up to Macchu Picchu (Probably looking to do the 4 day trek)
Back to Cuzco
Fly home
I think it's broadly doable in 3 weeks. I'm keen to avoid staying in cities too much, as this was my mistake in India. I'm also keen to find some of the more backpacker-y places as I'm travelling alone.
Hopefully the altitude won't be too much of a problem, I climbed Kilimanjaro 15yrs ago (Albeit a bit younger and fitter...)
Any other destination suggestions or rail journeys I need to do there?
I'm a big fan of train journeys overseas and there are actually a few to do in Peru it seems. Sadly the Lima-Huancayo train, which looks utterly epic, runs so infrequently I'll probably miss out, however I've devised a potential alternative route.
(Either way round, but probably Lima-Cuzco as the flights look more expensive the other way).
Lima- Couple of days acclimatisation
Travel down the coast, this bit will probably take up a week and a half or so.
National Parks near Pisco
Nazca Lines
Arequipa
Puno (For Lake Titicaca)
Train up to Cuzco (This bit looks epic). Couple of days acclimatisation
Train up to Macchu Picchu (Probably looking to do the 4 day trek)
Back to Cuzco
Fly home
I think it's broadly doable in 3 weeks. I'm keen to avoid staying in cities too much, as this was my mistake in India. I'm also keen to find some of the more backpacker-y places as I'm travelling alone.
Hopefully the altitude won't be too much of a problem, I climbed Kilimanjaro 15yrs ago (Albeit a bit younger and fitter...)
Any other destination suggestions or rail journeys I need to do there?
swerni said:
Lima is a s
t hole ( excuse my French), I'd head straight to Cusco and acclimatise there
Thanks for the tip. I flew into Delhi for an Indian trip last year so I fully expect the first 24hrs to be spent thinking 'what the hell have I done!?' t hole ( excuse my French), I'd head straight to Cusco and acclimatise there Flights don't work very well London-Cuzco though unfortunately, flying into Lima and then returning from Cuzco seems to work better time/cost wise so I may have to bite the bullet. Thanks to your advice though I'll only make it a short stay in Lima before heading down the coast
The other thing I'm concerned about is booking the Inca Trail in-country, doing it at the end of the trip will allow for a bit longer to book, arrange etc...
The train form Puno to Cuzco is an absolute must, there's a viewing carriage at the back but watch out as you pass through tiny villages as the local kids will be waiting with water bombs.
Try and get up to Colca canyon very early in the morning to watch the condors catching the early morning thermals. From memory I think we did Lima then Arequipa onto Colca canyon, then Puno and Cuzco before Machu Pichu. On the journey from Arequipa to Colca Canyon you're over 5000 metres at one point so Machu Pichu is relatively low at 3300 meters.
Try and get up to Colca canyon very early in the morning to watch the condors catching the early morning thermals. From memory I think we did Lima then Arequipa onto Colca canyon, then Puno and Cuzco before Machu Pichu. On the journey from Arequipa to Colca Canyon you're over 5000 metres at one point so Machu Pichu is relatively low at 3300 meters.
carreauchompeur said:
SimonMaidenhead said:
p.s. If you fly KLM they stop for a refuel in one of the French Antiles, maybe Barbuda, which you can stop over free of charge. Shame I didn't realise when I went.
Epic tip, will look into it. These are the KLM/Air France routes.
I flew with BA direct to BA. Great city, spend a few nights there, go and watch Boca etc. Then fly onto Cusco from there. If you have 3.5 weeks I would also suggest you could travel up to Iguazu?
Alternatively you could do Cusco/Picchu/Quito/Galapagos.
3.5 weeks gives you lots of options...
Alternatively you could do Cusco/Picchu/Quito/Galapagos.
3.5 weeks gives you lots of options...
Flights all booked, return with American via Miami came in at £620 LHR-CUZ-LIM-LHR which I thought was pretty good.
Getting really excited about it now, have 3 and a half weeks over there and have already found lots of fairly dangerous looking mountain biking activities to fill the first week, and have also booked my train tickets to do the second-highest railway in the world on my last few days, just need to get over there now!
Some of the livelier backpacker places are sounding like a great shout for the first week or so... Since I'm going alone I want some places that are more sociable than hotels!
My liver and wallet is not going to appreciate this trip I think.
Getting really excited about it now, have 3 and a half weeks over there and have already found lots of fairly dangerous looking mountain biking activities to fill the first week, and have also booked my train tickets to do the second-highest railway in the world on my last few days, just need to get over there now!
Some of the livelier backpacker places are sounding like a great shout for the first week or so... Since I'm going alone I want some places that are more sociable than hotels!
My liver and wallet is not going to appreciate this trip I think.
carreauchompeur said:
Thought I'd copy the Mexico thread's format
Anyway, I have 3.5 weeks booked off work mid Sept-mid Oct so fancy a foreign wander. Top of my shortlist at the moment is South America. I've been looking at Inca Trail websites and it looks like an awesome thing to do.
Anyone done it? I'm intending to book the actual trek over there since the flight/trek packages look extortionate.
How easy is it to travel on from Cusco? Intending to fly into Lima but would like to go on elsewhere afterwards, maybe a neighbouring country or similar. Flights to Lima and back coming out about £600, although most seem to go through mainland US which seems a pain!
Ideas people, ideas please!
I went to Maccu Piccu from Cusco and it is easy, although I didn't walk up the trail.Anyway, I have 3.5 weeks booked off work mid Sept-mid Oct so fancy a foreign wander. Top of my shortlist at the moment is South America. I've been looking at Inca Trail websites and it looks like an awesome thing to do.
Anyone done it? I'm intending to book the actual trek over there since the flight/trek packages look extortionate.
How easy is it to travel on from Cusco? Intending to fly into Lima but would like to go on elsewhere afterwards, maybe a neighbouring country or similar. Flights to Lima and back coming out about £600, although most seem to go through mainland US which seems a pain!
Ideas people, ideas please!
Personally I would (and did) spend the time it takes to walk the trail exploring the rest of Peru as is an incredible country and the trail is just a long walk in the mountains.
I realise that comment is a little trite, but touring around the country you spend so much of your time doing similar anyway.
Example places you can visit: The amazon (Iquitos), The Nasca Lines (google them-fascinating), Lake Titicaca (sp) and then a slow train through the Andes up to Cusco, Colca Canyon (deeper than the grand canyon - up in the Andes where you can just sit and see condors soaring below you) etc.
Thanks,
I'm not doing the Inca Trail as such as it's booked out for ages, however am thinking about an alternative walking/mountain biking trek for 4 days... Definitely then take the train Cuzco-Titicaca (titter!) and will make it up from there.
There certainly seems to be loads to do so I don't think I'll waste my 3.5 weeks!
I'm not doing the Inca Trail as such as it's booked out for ages, however am thinking about an alternative walking/mountain biking trek for 4 days... Definitely then take the train Cuzco-Titicaca (titter!) and will make it up from there.
There certainly seems to be loads to do so I don't think I'll waste my 3.5 weeks!
Yep, I'm slightly concerned about altitude as I'll already be flying into 3000 feet!
I did Kilimanjaro many years ago without too much issue with altitude sickness, although I was a bit younger and fitter then. Fingers crossed. Or I'll just have to chew coca leaves and explain the positive drug test when I get back
Really cracking into the Spanish learning. And indeed fitness. Why am I doing these things for a holiday? Bonkers.
I did Kilimanjaro many years ago without too much issue with altitude sickness, although I was a bit younger and fitter then. Fingers crossed. Or I'll just have to chew coca leaves and explain the positive drug test when I get back
Really cracking into the Spanish learning. And indeed fitness. Why am I doing these things for a holiday? Bonkers.
I did Peru on my honeymoon (plus Ecuador and the Galapagos).
: Lima - not as bad as some would have you believe, but not worth more than a day or so.
: the Amazon was great and worth doing.
: the Inca trail is superb and very much well worth doing. Note that the fittest people can get altitude sickness and struggle. Cusco is a really, really cool place. Very chilled out, plenty to do in an around there etc.
: Puno and surrounding areas are not that great and the Lake is equally not all that. If you're out there, do it just because it's a long way to go not to. But if that were to prevent me doing any of the above I wouldn't bother.
I found Peruvians very friendly people. The food was great and we had a fantastic time.
tbh if you've left it too late to book the trail, I'd go elsewhere in SAmerica now and defer Peru until you can plan ahead slightly. Argentina, for example, is another quality place to visit, easy to get around, nice people and food and plenty to see and do without the need to pre-book well in advance.
: Lima - not as bad as some would have you believe, but not worth more than a day or so.
: the Amazon was great and worth doing.
: the Inca trail is superb and very much well worth doing. Note that the fittest people can get altitude sickness and struggle. Cusco is a really, really cool place. Very chilled out, plenty to do in an around there etc.
: Puno and surrounding areas are not that great and the Lake is equally not all that. If you're out there, do it just because it's a long way to go not to. But if that were to prevent me doing any of the above I wouldn't bother.
I found Peruvians very friendly people. The food was great and we had a fantastic time.
tbh if you've left it too late to book the trail, I'd go elsewhere in SAmerica now and defer Peru until you can plan ahead slightly. Argentina, for example, is another quality place to visit, easy to get around, nice people and food and plenty to see and do without the need to pre-book well in advance.
swerni said:
You're only going to be a max of 10,000 feet, you were nearly twice that on Kili.
This is a much better experience than Kili.
Peru is about he journey, Kili is just about the summit day,I came off Kili disappointed.
Coca tea is great as well
Cross keys pub in Cusco is a great start point. ( owned be a friend of Ma)
Fallen Angel was an inexperience
The Irish bar was quite lively.
Puno, 12,555ft above sea level. On the road from Arequipa to Colca Canyon we were above 15,000 at one point.This is a much better experience than Kili.
Peru is about he journey, Kili is just about the summit day,I came off Kili disappointed.
Coca tea is great as well
Cross keys pub in Cusco is a great start point. ( owned be a friend of Ma)
Fallen Angel was an inexperience
The Irish bar was quite lively.
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