Answer Guide Where Are You? Also: Peru

[WeLoveABD]

Hey, what happened to our unknown ABD Guide who was kind enough to answer questions?

A question for him or her, or anyone who has Lima experience:

We have decided to stay with our plans to do the Peru ABD next August (the dates for the Egypt trip didn't work for us this go around--we are hoping for 2012, so keep filling up the 2011 trip dates everyone!). We likely will have a day or maybe a day and 1/2 in Lima, staying at the Disney-used hotel in Miraflores area of Lima. Recommendations anyone for a family of 4 (by then, a 17 1/2 yr old and a nearly 11 yr old)?? thanks--

 

[Grifdog22]

We took a full day tour of Lima, and I strongly recommend it. While on the ABD trip, you really don't formally do or see much in Lima except the one grand private home meal.

Our ABD guides hooked us up with a fantastic local guide, who was with us for the day. It was the best investment we made on the whole trip. We had a 20 year old son, and 9 year old twin girls - and they loved it. The ABD guides negotiated the rates for us, and the rate included the entrance fees to everything. We toured a monastery, several Cathedrals, the catacombs, plazas and parks, visited the ruins at Hauca Pucliana (from 400 AD). It was a walking and taxi driven tour that left us breathless with awe, and held the attention of both my girls and son. We were also directed to simply fantastic places to eat. We did explore some on our own, and that did not work out to be too productive.

The people in Lima are generally friendly, helpful, and grateful for you to spend your money. Our Disney provided escort from the airport to the hotel at the start of our trip was a disaster. He picked us up, drove us to Lima, left us at the wrong hotel and took off. We did not speak Spanish, and the deposited hotel did not have anyone speaking English. Fortunately, several locals in the lobby came to the rescue, flagged us a cab, told us in broken English where we needed to go and off we went. However, we had about three very uncomfortable hours trying to work this out on our own. The Disney "emergency number?" It's long distance - and no one would let us use their phone. It was an expensive cab ride, by the way. Disney didn't seem to think this was much of an issue though.

We have developed a real love of things Peruvian now, and just last week went to see the "Inca Son" live in concert - because we all miss the pan flutes and music.

There were some "problems" on our tour. (Road closures, etc.) Disney covered them okay - I was grateful for being a part of an established tour group. On the other hand, we missed several of the things I really wanted to do. I say this to encourage you to take advantage while you can of things. While in Cusco, we visited museums, etc. way off the Disney grid. (Most museums are open until 10-11 pm - we had our own spooky night at the museum). While at Sol y Luna, take a horseback ride, jump into the spa. The hotel told us we were the first in a year to take a horseback ride from the Disney group. It was amazing. Disney does a good job on the planned tour - but its limited.

Enjoy!

 

[Phil1019]

HI, My daughter and I went on the Peru trip 7/25/10. We arrived one day earlier than the tour to get acclimated to the altitude. The concierage service at the Casa-Andina Miraflores in Lima very helpful in planning our one day in Lima. Jean Pierre gave us many suggestons as to shopping , museums, tours , restaurants ,always keeping in mind our safety. He suggested we take the hotel cab service as opposed to using the city cab service , since it is not as safe and you must negotiate a cab fee before junping in. We decided to go to the Plaza Mayor (Main Square) to vist the San Francisco church (home to Franciscan Monks and catacombs), viewed the government palace (Placio de Gobierno) , did some shopping. . That evening we ate at Huaca Pucllana Restaurant. In the fifth century, the Lima valley inhabitants started the consruction of the Huaca Pucllana. Currently the archeological zone spreads over 15 hectares . Guests are able to dine among the ruins. Food was fabulous! The ruins are closed one day out of the week (I think Monday) but you can always eat there. In my ABD group two different families decided to do the guided tour. One family enjoyed it immensely with a great tour guide but-- the other family stated that their tour guide did not seem as if she really wanted to be there and felt their money had not been well spent. Our ABD group was lucky enough that on our last day we had some extra time and our ABD guides arranged a tour on a bus with a Lima tour guide that took us to all the important places in Lima . The two families that had paid for the tour were not that happy that they had spent quite a bit for a tour that wa now offered FREE! The last day of our tour was also spent in Lima since our plane did not leave til 1030pm. We just walked around Peru, shopping, eating, shopping, eating! There is a beautiful Mall called the Larco Mar shopping center that is built into tth side of cliffs overlooking the Pacific ocean. It is a short walk from the Casa-Andina. Jean Pierre can give you a walking map. Have a great vacation!

 

[WeLoveABD]

thanks for the info on tours! I assume you paid with local currency--do you recall how much it cost for a private guide tour? Any issues with local ATM machines?

 

[Phil1019]

Since I did not take a tour( except the added surprise tour offered by our ABD guides), I am not sure what the price is. I did hear two of our fellow companions say that it was pricey. I did not use any of the ATM's in Peru. I brought cash or paid with a debit card or credit card. If you use a credit or debit card you will be charged an international fee.

 

[corky441]

Just a quick FYI... There are Capital One credit cards that do not charge the extra International fees

 

[tufbuf]

This is a really helpful thread since we are going to Peru in June as well. For those who did the adventure, did you bring local currency? And the ABD tours arranged in Lima, are those booked on the following day you arrive if we do a pre-night? Thanks for the info!

 

[Adena]

DH, 9yo DD, 7yo DS and I were also on the 7/26 to 8/3 Peru ABD with a pre-night on 7/25.

For the day on our own in Lima we went to Huaca Pucllana for a tour and lunch at the restaurant: It was a good experience. Later in the day we ventured down to the Larco Mar shopping center that's built into the cliffs overlooking the Pacific Ocean: that was also worthwhile. We ended the day with the kids having play time in the pool at Casa Andina Miraflores.

We had a wonderful experience with this ABD. We'd recommend it to anyone, but with advice that it's an active, physical trip -- for those who want to get the most out of the experience.

DH and DD did the horseback riding excursion from Sol y Luna. This was our extra expense, not part of the ABD experience. They said it was the best part of their time in Peru.

TufBuf: We brought local currency and that worked well for us throughout our trip. Others on our ABD may have done things differently, and I know that ATMs were widely available.

We have photos posted here: kimbleandeanadventure.shutterfly.com. Our pictures, however, don't do justice to the majesty of the scenery in southern Peru.

 

[tufbuf]

Thanks Adena for your response! We always bring local currency but I am having a diificult time determining how much to bring. How much is a decent meal for a family of 4? I guess that will give me a better idea.

Also, those extra tours were booked by the tour guides or through the hotel, correct? Since I cannot find any that will book online.

 

[Adena]

We paid cash (Peruvian soles) about the equivalent of about $85 U.S. for a lunch for a family of four at Huaca Pucllana. We had a couple other nice non-ABD meals and paid similar amounts: lunch at the restaurant at the Museum of PreColumbian Art and dinner at Incantu, both in Cusco.

For our visit to Huaca Pucllana, the concierge at Casa Andina Miraflores arranged for a driver to take us there. I can't recall the cost, but it was equivalent to a reasonable cab fare. Once the driver dropped us off at the entrance to Huaca Pucllana, we went to the gate to purchase ticketes for a tour of the site. Again, I can't recall the price, but it was reasonable -- like museum admission.

 

[Phil1019]

When my daughter and I used the driver from The Casa-Andina Miraflores, the price was $15.00 each way. They did not want cash up front, insted charged it to our room which was placed on our credit card. I did give the driver a tip in US dollars. I found that just about every merchant excepted US dollars except for Dunkin Donuts in Lar Marco Mall and a little ice cream store somewhere along the beaten path. .

 

[smep013]

So excited to see new posts about Peru!

We are headed there July 4, 2011 - for a pre-night. The ABD starts on July 5. Is it safe to assume we will have all day on the 5th then, before the ABD Welcome Dinner that evening?

Thanks!

 

[tufbuf]

There is no welcome dinner on the 1st ABD day. The first day is pretty much arrival day, which will be your extra day if you book a pre-night. The next morning, which is ABD day no. 2, you fly to Cusco and the welcome dinner will be that evening.

 

[smep013]

Makes total sense - thanks! I'm glad we are doing the pre-night!

 

[WeLoveABD]

Me too--and I'm collecting useful info re Lima, which I'll share (once organized) on this site!

 

[Bobo912]

Has anyone gotten a good deal on airfare to Peru or have any recommendations on when to book it? This Visa gift card offer has me thinking about this trip as a possibility for next summer, but I've already got one big trip to pay for so I'd like to keep the cost down as much as possible. I could keep the cost down more by going somewhere I can handle on my own, but I'm so spoiled now that the idea of having to do all the planning and execution is just too much for me.

 

[smep013]

We are still looking for our airfare to Peru, most likely from Newark this coming July. Seeing it at about $700 per person, round trip, including taxes and fees. Same price when I look and when I got a quote from Disney. Same price since August.

 

[Bobo912]

We are still looking for our airfare to Peru, most likely from Newark this coming July. Seeing it at about $700 per person, round trip, including taxes and fees. Same price when I look and when I got a quote from Disney. Same price since August.

I've been watching it for months too and it hasn't varied. The best I'm seeing from Nashville is $1059 on Continental through Newark. It always seems crazy to me to go north to get somewhere that is south of home, but the flights through their Houston hub are higher and the other airlines are higher. Would have been nice to add a Peru extension to our Galapagos trip, but I'm not comfortable missing that many consecutive days of work and I liked the idea of a spring break trip. We'll probably stick to the US for the summer. We would have chosen the July 5th date too, since DS would be celebrating a birthday during the trip. Hope you have a wonderful time and tell us all about it when you get back!

 

[smep013]

There are so few direct flights... none from our home airport in Philly.
I will look to book soon, I guess. I'd hate to wait only for the price to go up.

I will certainly let you know about the trip after we return. July seems so far away with the cold weather setting in up here, but we both know, it will be here before we know it.

Happy Thanksgiving!!!