ParkerSunshine

Me and my husband want to go away for Christmas this year by ourselves. This is a rare opportunity that we won't have again, typically cramped into some family members house for the holidays! Although that is wonderful in its own way, we want to take full advantage of this year!

Anyhow, I have been looking for places to go that offer decent airfare, and some of our "dream" destinations (ie Thailand) are too much money to conceive visiting during the holiday break. I came across an alert and it seems like I could get decent airfare to Peru in Dec. But I know nothing of this country --- why visit here? And where to visit w/in the country?

We enjoy adventure, culture, people, and the beach! We prefer to stay at 2 -3 places within countries when visiting to get a well rounded experience.

We are thinking of traveling for 7 - 10 days.

Would Peru be a good fit? What can we do there etc? THX

mlgb

Yes I think so, although perhaps leave out the beach part.

In 7-10 days you can see Cusco, Machu Picchu and the Sacred Valley, perhaps also Lake Titicaca, and a day in Lima on the way back.

Check some of the trip reports under Peru for details.

Eenusa has a nice blog of her trip you can find the link under her trip report.

qwovadis

For a first timer might

do a Peru Galapagos Combo

www.peruforless.com

www.kuodatours.com

both good operators.

Jeff_Costa_Rica

If you're thinking of going to Peru (and I'd recommend Peru to anybody), I'd pick up a good guidebook. Fodor's has one, and I'll plug it since this is their site.

What I like about Peru is that it has a pretty polished tourism infrastructure, but you still get a place that is exciting and different.

The only drawback I see with your plan is that December is the any season there, but it can still be done.

Jeff_Costa_Rica

That should be "rainy" season.

mlgb

I think the rainy season thing is really only an issue if you plan to go to the Amazon or hike the Inka Trail to MP.

I went in January and there are advantages in that it is warmer at the high altitudes, plus the landscape is green and flower-filled. The rain didn't have much effect on my vacation, either, although I was glad I took the earliest train to MP (from Ollantaytambo) because it did rain after about 1:30 pm.