cindysphinx

My husband dearly wants the family to go to Peru. I have some reservations, but heck, we never do what he wants to do, so I will be a good egg and plan this trip for August 2007.

Background: We are 47, 45, 15, 13, and 10. Our fitness ranges from good (that's me, with tennis and running) to average. We haven't vacationed outside of the U.S. since the kiddies were born, but we don't like big hotels, bland American food, big crowds, cruise ships, or tours led by guides carrying umbrellas. We do like our hot showers, though.

We usually just rent a house at a beach while vacationing, and our other big trips have been to Hawaii (volcano hike) and Yosemite (one day hike). We do not have proper hiking gear. In our pre-kid life, husband and I would go to Europe or Mexico and just wander about, tour book in hand.

We think we'll have two weeks this August for this trip. I have heard that it is a mistake to get off the plane and do Cusco/MP immediately because of the altitude, and it's better to do other things for a while to acclimate.

Questions:

What makes a sensible itinerary for a group like ours? Are things like sand surfing appropriate for us? Should we even consider hiking the Inca trail? Is it reasonable to attempt this without using a tour company, and if we should use a tour company, which ones should I explore first? What hiking gear should we buy for this trip, and where/when should we buy it?

Thanks for the help. I've read and searched the Latin America forum, but I'm really in over my head on this one.

kbc

I travelled with my husband and 12 year old son to Peru in November(see yesterday's post on our trip). If you go to Peru, I would suggest the following:
1. Fly into Cusco, but then go immediately to the Sacred Valley for a few days to acclimate. You may want to schedule with a guide, like we did. It was reasonable and very nice to be independent and not have to travel with a large group.

David Choque, our guide, can be reached at [email protected]. He is a wonderful man and very easy to be around. He will help plan your itinerary and then take care of you while in Peru. He has a nice modern van that can transport your family comfortably.

The Sacred Valley, Cusco and Machu Picchu were great. My son got a little tired of all of the "ruins"; it is a cultural trip in many ways. At the same time, journeying around the Sacred Valley with David allowed us to see the local life and appreciate the real Peru.

We went to Ecuador last year and this is a VERY kid-friendly option to consider, perhaps as a combination to Peru's Machu Pichu/Sacred Valley. We spent 7 days in the Galapagos on a 25 passenger boat through a company called Ecoventura, www.ecoventura.com. This was truly a trip of a lifetime! Each day you'd explore two islands and witness different scenery and wildlife on each. We were able to snorkel each day as well. We also spent 3 nights in the jungle at Sacha Lodge which was a great experience. Ecoventura booked this for me at the same price as if I had booked it directly.

So, if you have 2 weeks, you might see how you could feasibly do Galapagos, Ecuadorian jungle, and then finish with time in Sacred Valley/Machu Pichu. This would really be a great combination and provide diversity as well as relaxation while boating in the Galapagos.

Also, you don't need hiking gear per se, just comfortable shoes. My son wore his regular tennis shoes without any issues.

Good luck.

ancientsummit

i just want to say that i think it would be really rushing it to try the galapagos, ecuador and peru in two weeks. I have a custom travel service in Peru and have seen people really ruin their time trying to squeeze things in. Either go to Ecuador as mentioned in another post or come to Peru. I arrange tours for families all the time and say this to you with confidence. There is also enough to do that you don't have to get bored visiting too many ruins. Whatever you do, plan now because August is still high season and things get booked up. Regarding the Inca Trail, If you want to experience it, you can get a two day where some of you can stay in the train and go directly to Aguas Calientes and the adventurers can get off and hike for the day and end up in Aguas Calientes with your family and all go up together the next morning on the bus. Hope this helps.
Nina

suze

Honestly, while I usually advocate self-planning, for a trip like this -Peru and what I would consider adventure travel- I would consider using a specialized travel agent or researching a package that covered the places and activities you week... especially since you have not traveled this way in a long time or planned this kind of thing before. I would also feel "over my head" trying to figure out the questions you ask, and I plan all kinds of trips for myself.

suze

i just opened my latest Conde Nast Traveler magazine (January 2007) there's an article on exactly the information you seek! Peru pg 76-82

cailin

It would be better to acclimatise before getting to Cusco - somewhere like Arequipa would be perfect. It's a really gorgeous city.

Sand surfing would definitly be suitable for you and your kids - it's safe and it doesn't hurt when you fall! I would highly recommend the Inca Trail - but it is tough - particularly day 2. However if your kids are happy trekking and don't mind walking for long hours, then it's an experience not to be missed. You can even pay slightly extra for a "private" tour - which would probably be of benefit as you don't have to keep up with everyone and you can go at your own pace.

I would suggest something along the lines of:

a day in Lima, then fly to Arequipa for a couple of days with perhaps a side trip to Colca Canyon (the condors are spectacular). Then fly on to Puno and see Lake Titicaca and visit the islands (we did an overnight trip to the islands and stayed with a local family which was a great experience - I'd say the kids would love it). And then go on to Cusco for a few days, perhaps doing the trek. You could even do just a 2 day trek which might be better for the kids.

ozlock

We were in Amazonas for two weeks before going to Cuzco, Machupicchu (MP) and Lima, having spent a couple of days in Iquitos.
Frankly, Cuzco and Lima are rather grimy cities. Nevertheless I found Cuzco interesting; Lima less so. But if you are going to MP, which is very worthwhile, I can recommend Amazing Peru.
They were great, from meeting at the airport, to the hotel (Ruinas), to the tour of the Sacred Valley, to practically carrying us to the train to Aguas Calientes and bus to MP, to advice on Cuzco, purchasing local products, restaurants, etc.--peerless.
Our 34-year old companion hiked the Inca trail but spent two or three days acclimating. I took no chances by taking altitude sickness meds.
All the tour guides were (Quechua-recommended) great, with excellent English and great spirit.
The tour in Cuzco will probably bore the teens. Don't miss the pisco sour which is free in most hotels and restaurants. And bottles of pisco are beautifully decorated and make terrific gifts.
The hawkers in Cuzco and Iquitos were unrelenting--get used to it. There were none in Lima's colonial district.

Pegsimba

You can do the planning yourself with the internet - we had all of our reservations, flights, etc done completely on our own. As to hiking the Inca trail, you must go with a group (we used Andean Life). It is not easy and you must be in good shape. We did it and survived, but the altitude is extremely difficult (especially since we do most of our hiking, biking, etc in FL). In addition to our 3 day hike on the trail, we did four days in the jungle, took the bus to Puna and did a trip on the lake, took another bus to Arequipa (visited the Colca canyon), then flew back to Lima for our trip home. Twenty days altogether. We totally enjoyed our trip.

waxwing

Cindysphinx:

We just finalized our August 2007 vacation to Peru. My husband and I are in our late 40s and are travelling with our two sons (14 and 9). We worked with Inkanatura and finally settled on this itinerary.


August 2007
Day 1 Lima - Cusco
Arrival and transfer to your hotel in Cusco
Night at Novotel 4*
Day 2 Cusco- Sacred Valley
Breakfast
Trip to the Sacred Valley
Visit Pisac, Chincheros and Ollantaytambo
Lunch. Stay in a hotel in the valley
Night at Pakaritampu
Day 3 Sacred VAlley- Inca trail
Breakfast
Start the Inca trail 2 day trip
Night at Machu Picchu Pueblo hotel
Dinner
Day 4 Machu Picchu
Breakfast
2nd visit to Machu Picchu
Lunch
PM train back to Cusco
Arrival and transfer to your hotel in Cusco
Night at Novotel
Day 5 Machu Picchu- Cusco
Breakfast
Day free
Night at Novotel
Day 6 Cusco-Manu
Breakfast
Start Manu trip 4 days / 3 nights

Day 7 Manu

Day 8 Manu

Day 9 Manu - Cusco
Night at Novotel

Day 10 Cusco-Puno
Breakfast
Arrival to Puno and transer to your hotel
Night at Liberador Puno
Day 11 Puno
Breakfast
Full day tour to Titicaca lake
Visit Uros and Taquile islands
Night at Libertador Puno
Day 12 Puno- Tour to Sillustani Tombs
End of tour.

Since we will have three more days in peru after the Inkanatura itinerary, we contacted David Choque (thanks to recommendations on this forum) and he is taking us to Colca Canyon and back to Cusco.


Hope this is helpful.

waxwing

koala

I think if you want to hike but don't want to spend 4 whole days hiking and camping on the trail the 2 day Inka trail option is best. This really only is a one day hike on the trail with overnight in Aguas Callientes (the shower afterward at Machu Picchu pueblo hotel was the best in our life!)You take the train from Cusco to Aguas Calientes, but get off on one of the earlier stops to begin the day hike up to Machu Picchu. The hike is steep initially and tiring, but then levels out and wanders past waterfalls with tons of orchids and other plants, there are some amazing ruins to see along the way, and then when you first round the corner at the Sun Gate, the view is incredible. Then you hike downhill to get to Machu Picchu and you again come up over a hill to see it, I stood there in awe for at least 10 minutes. We arrived there around 4PM when most of the other tourists are already gone and it is sooooo peaceful. Then we took the bus down to Aguas callientes for the overnight at Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel. You could book a room at the top of the mountain at The Sanctuary Lodge but it will cost you more than double, and the Machu Picchu Pueblo hotel was much more Peruvian and surrounded by plant life and humming birds, and ahhhh, the hot rainforest like shower was the best ever! The next day take the earliest bus back up to Machu Picchu to see it in the fog before all the other tourists get there, and spend all day exploring and climbing Huana Picchu peak at the far end (very fun).

We are going to the galapagos this year and I agree I wouldn't rush and try to sqeeze both in to the same trip unless you want to skip mainland equador and think you really will never come back to South America.

Also don't wast more than a day in Lima, not worth it when there are better things to see. Never made it to Lake Titticaca and I regret that. I chose to day trip all the way down to see the Nazca lines and it wasn't worth it at all, also Sand boarding isn't that great, they just had a wood board with leather foot straps and they didn't slide very well. Would rather snowboard anyday.

In case your interested we arranged our trip through www.orquidea.net/ a peruvian company three years ago, they did a great job and the price was half of what US companies were charging, they also customized our trip for what we wanted as far as accomodations and guides. We had our own guide for the Inca trail day hike who was awesome and knew sooo much and spoke very understandable english. Most of our other day trips were also by a private guide except we went on a bus tour of the Sacred Valley.

Lunita

Waxwing, your itinerary looks fantastic! Your boys are going to love it however I would change a little your first and second day. You could ask David Choque about this as well. Also I don't think to need to go to Arequipa to get used to the altitud, you can go directly to Cusco and go down first.

On day one, upon arrival to Cusco (most flights are in the am) go down directly to the Valley, if you stay in Cusco right away for that first night you might get SOROCHE. Arrange for a private car and driver to drive you down and stop in Pisac and then in Ollantaytambo and spend your FIRST night at Pacaritambo, the Hotel is GREAT, the altitud there is manageable and you shouldn't get sick this way. One day for this is pleanty and enojoyable.

On day two start you hike down to Aguas Calientes. If you can add a night to The Machu Pichu Pueblo hotel, do it there. The hotel is an experience of its own. Its location next to the Urubamba is breathtaking and the service and food are first class. They offer ecco tours in their property and you can also walk to twh waterfalls of Mandor. For us the Machu Pichu Pueblo has a lot more character than the Sanctuary Lodge so if you can stay on day three in aguas calientes great. On day Four go to Machu Pichu and return to Cusco. The Novotel is a good 4 star Hotel with a great Location.

Once in Cuzco is when you will have a chance to visit Chincheros,Saksaywaman, Timbomachay, Tipon etc... We went horseback riding next to Sacsaywaman and it was beautiful. I recommend two great restaurants in Cusco, Cicciolina and Inkagrill!

As far as staying in LIma well iot is tru it is a horrible city but it has its charm too: The great restaurants and the San Fransisco de Asis and the Catacumbs. If you stay in Lima stay at the Park Plaza Hotel in Miraflores and I would recommend the following restaurants: Fusion in San Isidro, La Gloria, Astrid y Gaston and Jose Antonio.

Good Luck!

waxwing

Thank you, Lunita for your great suggestions. I am working on revising my itinerary.

koala

ditto on the Inkagrill in Cusco, great food. There was anothe place we ate there that had local musicians and dancers to entertain you during dinner, that was really nice too. It's upstairs on the same side of the central square as the Inkagrill.