Peru: Sacred Valley and Incan Cities Meets Thread

[Bobo912]

I noticed that the price for our date had increased another $100 pp this week so when I called to book a pre-night, I asked how many had booked so far, expecting the count to have increased, but it was still the same as when I made my reservation 2 weeks ago. I also booked our air and the price they quoted for our Delta flight was about $50 less pp than booking directly with Delta. In the past the price has always been the same as what I found on my own. They told me they have an arrangement. I'm glad I didn't book it myself.

 

[kristilew]

But didn't the count increase by your group? I think the price must have gone up because of your booking.

 

[Bobo912]

But didn't the count increase by your group? I think the price must have gone up because of your booking.

When we booked there were 17 already, so we made the total go up to 19. I guess somebody cancelled because now it's 17 including us. I thiink the price went up around 10 days after we booked.

 

[fireplug]

I thought I should go for it while the knees and hips are still fully functioning.

We did this trip on 2009 and loved it! You are correct in needing good legs. I had an arthroscope of one knee 6 months before the trip and it was tough going on some of the climbs. I hope you all have a great time!

Squid

 

[kac911]

Suitcases are packed!! We actually leave tomorrow to spend some time on our own before the ABD check in, but 1 1/2 weeks until our Peru Adult Only ABD trip! I'm kind of sad I wasn't able to meet anyone on the trip beforehand, My DCL disboard friends have become some of my favorite people and I was hoping for the same pre-made friendships to enhance this trip (I guess DH will just have to keep me entertained, but poor guy doesn't always have the energy needed to feed my "go"!). Nonetheless, I'm sure it will be wonderful! I'll try to get to a TR, I'm just not a great writer and am an even better procrastinator (I still mean to write the Disneyland Tokyo report from last Sept). So, I'm mostly posting this so if those with up coming trips need a resource I can be contacted. Be back home mid Oct!

 

[sayhello]

Suitcases are packed!! We actually leave tomorrow to spend some time on our own before the ABD check in, but 1 1/2 weeks until our Peru Adult Only ABD trip! I'm kind of sad I wasn't able to meet anyone on the trip beforehand, My DCL disboard friends have become some of my favorite people and I was hoping for the same pre-made friendships to enhance this trip (I guess DH will just have to keep me entertained, but poor guy doesn't always have the energy needed to feed my "go"!). Nonetheless, I'm sure it will be wonderful! I'll try to get to a TR, I'm just not a great writer and am an even better procrastinator (I still mean to write the Disneyland Tokyo report from last Sept). So, I'm mostly posting this so if those with up coming trips need a resource I can be contacted. Be back home mid Oct!

Yes, because the number of people on an ABD is so much smaller than the number of people on a cruise, there's less chance of hooking up with fellow DISers. I'm sure you'll become friends with your fellow travellers VERY quickly! ABD is really good at fostering that!

Safe travels!
Sayhello

 

[queenmother]

After discussion with family members over Thanksgiving who have visited Peru in the past, we have booked for July 14 2013!! We have 2 teens who will be 16 and 13 next summer. I am studying the flights now and insurance, I think 500K of med evac insurance will be enough, Disney insurance is only 75K, I usually carry what I call "mean boss" insurance which is actually unpredicatable job insurance with Allianz that will reimburse us if I have to work after all due to unforeseen work circumstances, as well as the usual medical and trip interruption reasons. Also, happily I have found that the airfare doesn't seem too crazy from Indiana. I am debating if we need to fly in a day early or not, the flight arrives at 9:40 pm on Day one and the action seems to start on Day 2. Is there much extra to see in the Lima area? I will have to do some research of course!! So excited!!!!

 

[Bobo912]

After discussion with family members over Thanksgiving who have visited Peru in the past, we have booked for July 14 2013!! We have 2 teens who will be 16 and 13 next summer. I am studying the flights now and insurance, I think 500K of med evac insurance will be enough, Disney insurance is only 75K, I usually carry what I call "mean boss" insurance which is actually unpredicatable job insurance with Allianz that will reimburse us if I have to work after all due to unforeseen work circumstances, as well as the usual medical and trip interruption reasons. Also, happily I have found that the airfare doesn't seem too crazy from Indiana. I am debating if we need to fly in a day early or not, the flight arrives at 9:40 pm on Day one and the action seems to start on Day 2. Is there much extra to see in the Lima area? I will have to do some research of course!! So excited!!!!

Congratulations! I decided to fly into Lima a day early. Last year when we flew to Guayquil, Ecuador our flight was scheduled to arrive at 11:00PM, but our take off from Miami was delayed due to mechanical problems. We ended up arriving at our hotel in Guayquil around 3:30AM. We got to bed around 4:00 and had to get up an hour later to go back to the airport for a flight to the Galapagos. We were so excited we managed to make it through the first day without collapsing from fatigue, but I wanted to avoid any possibility of that happening again.

 

[kristilew]

I second flying in a day early. We did not on the Peru trip, and spent a day or two catching up. Once the Adventure starts, you are going full-tilt!

You will LOVE this trip!

 

[queenmother]

Thanks!! How crazy are those 2 am departures from Lima? Was the check in at the Lima airport in Lima to come home a little crazy at midnight?

 

[kristilew]

Thanks!! How crazy are those 2 am departures from Lima? Was the check in at the Lima airport in Lima to come home a little crazy at midnight?

It was actually great. We had a nice dinner, took a shower (ABD books your room for you, even though you're leaving that night) and then headed over. The people working at the airport were super nice, security was very efficient. One of our better overall airport experiences. Once we got on the plane, everyone went right to sleep. It wasn't like the night flights from the US to Europe where they keep you up with bustle for a couple of hours.

 

[queenmother]

That is good news, I am studying my Peru Fodors too, Lima chapter, if we fly in a day early we can see some catacombs with actual skulls! Fun for teenagers I would think. There is a bike tour as well. And pre-inca pyramids right in Lima. I think we will enjoy an extra day there.

 

[dizneekrazee]

Thanks!! How crazy are those 2 am departures from Lima? Was the check in at the Lima airport in Lima to come home a little crazy at midnight?

What airline are you flying home with? We flew with LAN, and yes, even in the middle of the night, the line is crazy long.

I was in Peru mid October (not with ABD, which I previously mentioned), but wanted to come on here to to tell everybody that one cannot emphasize enough the importance of pants/long sleeves and bug spray at Machu Picchu. The sand flies are horrid. I recieved a total of maybe 6 bites on my arms (had to take of my long sleeves as it was so hot, but I wish I didn't). 4 of those bites I still have, and I returned Oct 22. They were healing, but a few days before Thanksgiving, they began to get worse. Red, swollen, began to spread, etc. I ended up having to be seen and was given steroids for them.

I know that my case was that I was allergic to the saliva in these bugs, and thay may not be the case for everybody. Just please be prepared.

If any of you are on tripadvisor as well, there is a thread 19 pages long on these bites, some people had them for several months.

 

[kristilew]

The ABD guides did have really good bug spray for us...We were there in June and had long sleeves and jeans because it was a little cooler. There definitely were midges and other biting bugs, but they didn't bother us once we were sprayed. Maybe they are worse when it is hotter?

 

[Bobo912]

I spoke to ABD today and found out that there are 42 people booked on our departure date and that it's 91% full. That makes full 46. When did the maximum group size go up? Has anybody seen that information on the website recently? I know it used to say 40, but I can't find anything about it now.

 

[dizneekrazee]

The ABD guides did have really good bug spray for us...We were there in June and had long sleeves and jeans because it was a little cooler. There definitely were midges and other biting bugs, but they didn't bother us once we were sprayed. Maybe they are worse when it is hotter?

Possible. But I do not want to be the guinea pig to find out!! Lol. My bites are almost completely healed, but they left scars.

 

[queenmother]

Bobo, are you doing the March or the summer dates? July?
We haven't booked the flights yet, I am trying for some frequent flier award tickets. Soon.
Thanks for the bugbite tips. Long sleeves and DEET will be our friends.

 

[Bobo912]

Bobo, are you doing the March or the summer dates? July?
We haven't booked the flights yet, I am trying for some frequent flier award tickets. Soon.
Thanks for the bugbite tips. Long sleeves and DEET will be our friends.

We booked the March trip.

I am a bit concerned about the insects. DS is a bug magnet, so I want to have plenty of heavy duty bug spray. I saw a link to a blog on the Lindblad/Nat Geo Facebook page about a traveler who missed his flight in Lima because his luggage didn't make it through security. And the reason was the bug spray he put in his checked bags. I know from previous posts that some ABD'ers have taken bug spray to Peru, but now I'm worried. They took this guy off the plane and wouldn't let his wife come with him. When we were flying home from Ecuador, I was taken to a luggage handling area while my bags were searched. There was nothing suspicious in my bags. They just select people at random. But I had to leave my then 11-year-old son at the gate and the plane was boarding by the time I got back. Luckily, he was with friends from the tour, but I'm sure he was nearing the point of freaking out. And so was I.

Here's the guy's story. Everything turned out okay, but I can just imagine how stressful this was. He was going to the Amazon. Maybe the area he was traveling to had restrictions on insect repellant. But I would think it would be a necessity in the Amazon.

http://www.expeditions.com/blog/2012/12/05/an-unplanned-amazon-adventure/

 

[queenmother]

That is a concerning story. According to the Lan website, the repellants are allowed in checked luggage up to a limit; see below which I copied from them.


"Medicinal items or toiletries, non-radioactive (including aerosols), such as hairspray, perfume, cologne, repellents and medicine containing alcohol. The total net amount of all the articles mentioned above should not exceed 2 kilograms (4.4 lbs.) or 2 liters (2 qt) and the net amount of each article should not exceed 0.5 kilograms or 0.5 liters (1 pt). The valves should be covered with a protective cap or by another appropriate method that prevents the inadvertent release of its contents."


It sounds like they (Lan or the Peruvians?) were overzealous at the Lima airport to me. Even the State Dept website recommends we bring our own repellant from the US. I think we will be fine up to the above limits.

Which airline does ABD use to fly from Lima to Cusco?

 

[Bobo912]

ABD also has insect repellant on their list of items to pack. I'm going to pack one in my bag and one in DS's. At least that way, if they have an issue maybe they'll remove both of us from the plane.