Peru Trip Details

Lost City of the Incas, Machu Picchu

Here are more details on our itinerary. For my researched I used 3 guidebooks, Fodor's, Moon, and Lonely Planet. I also did extensive internet research. So based on my research here is the list of priorities:

High Priority. You would not go to Peru without seeing these sights.

• Machu Picchu
• Sacred Valley
• Cuzco

Medium Priority. Seconday sights that can be chosen after you have seen the biggies.

• Lake Titicaca
• Amazon Jungle
• Lima

Lower Priority. Sights to see if you have the time.

• Nazca
• Colca Canyon
• Arequipa
• The North and Central Highlands

With our limited time we chose the following:

• Machu Picchu
• Sacred Valley
• Cuzco
• Amazon Jungle
• Lake Titicaca

Given our time constraints, we had to choose between Lake Titicaca and Lima. The big city lost out over a cultural exchange with natives in the Andes. The risk is that we overdose on the Incas. However, we have some safety concerns about Lima. If you read the US State Department's website you might never go to Peru. Another interesting website is the Australian goverment website. They rate the safety of every country. Peru has the same rating as Mexico, so apply your own filter. Just the same we are spending one night in Lima to get some rest and maybe enjoy a restaurant.

A trip into the Amazon jungle just sounded too exciting to pass up. Do you know anyone who has been deep into the Amazon? I don't.

Here are the trip details:

Date	Activity
5/21	Leave SFO at 1:25am and arrive in Lima at 7:10pm. There is a 6 hour layover in El Salvador. 1 night in Lima. Lima Hotel: Hotel La Castellana $85/night
5/22	Take a 11:00am flight to Juliaca. A tour company will shuttle us to our hotel, one hour away in Puno. At 12,500 feet in elevation, we will just make a leisurely afternoon of it. 2 nights in Puno. Puno Hotel: Intiqa Hotel $75/night
5/23	We take an all day tour of Lake Titicaca, visit the floating islands and then the indigenous settlement on the island of Taquile. Tour: All Ways Travel   $52/pp
5/24	We take a bus tour between Puno and Cuzco high in the Andes. It is a 9 hour tour that includes mountain scenery, Inca sights, and lunch. 1 night in Cuzco. Cuzco Hotel: Casa San Blas  $130/night Tour: Inka Express $40/pp
5/25	Get on the train for a 4 hour ride to Machu Picchu. Spend time at Machu Picchu as well as the Eco-lodge where we will be staying. 1 night in Aguas Caliente. Aguas Caliente Hotel: InkaTerra Machu Picchu  $900/night
5/26	All day at Machu Picchu and the Eco-lodge. Take the evening train back to Cuzco. 1 night in Cuzco. Cuzco Hotel: Casa San Blas  $130/night
5/27	Take the early morning 40 minute flight into the Amazon. Take a 90 minute canoe ride to our Jungle lodge. Then, jungle exploration. 3 nights in Manu. Jungle Lodge: Manu Wildlife Center  $1350/pp all inclusive with air.
5/28	Jungle Boogie.
5/29	Jungle Boogie.
5/30	Fly back to Cuzco. Enjoy Cuzco. 3 nights in Cuzco. Cuzco Hotel: Royal Inka I $110/night
5/31	Experience the Pisac market and tour the Sacred Valley. Tour: Sacred Valley Tour $70/pp
6/1	Last day in Cuzco. Take a guided tour of the city in the afternoon. Tour: Cuzco City Tour $45/pp
6/2	Early morning flight out of Cuzco to Lima. Catch our flight back to SFO arriving at midnight. There is a 3 hour layover in El Salvador.

One side note. As you can see most prices are reasonable. But the Machu Picchu Eco-lodge is an eye-popper. Most tourists take the 4 hour train ride there, spend 4 hours at Machu Picchu, and then get back on the train for a 4 hour ride back. I just couldn't see going 4500+ miles to see Machu Picchu for 4 hours. So you pay to stay in the vicinity. I was forced to get a Junior Suite because the other rooms were booked, and they charge per person. There are 3 of us. If there had been only 2 of us, it would have been $600/night. The Eco-lodge does provide 3 meals and tours for what it's worth.