Has anyone ever visited Peru?
- Thread starter bicker
- Start date
PigletsPal2
Queen of the Realm
- Joined
- Jun 20, 2008
- Messages
- 2,569
I lived in Lima for two years and liked it very much. The climate (hot) suited me, rainy season not too long, people gracious, expecially if you tried to speak Spanish. Goods and services VERY reasonable (We had a live-in maid, cook/laundress, gardener, floor/window man and car wash boy for about US$200 a month!) The food was very good and I was told the pisco sours were to die for (I can't drink - I'm allergic). We didn't travel to Macchu Picchu because of local terrorism at the time (1983-1985) but took several local day trips. All in all, pleasant memories of Peru.
Queen Colleen
Queen Colleen
We're still working out the details. We're aiming to go with my brother's in-laws. So we still need to work out the terms of the trip. We would lean toward using a reputable, US-based tour company. I'm very leery about wiring money to Peru for local tour companies' offerings. I'm not so sure to what extent my brother's in-laws are going to prefer saving money over that modicum of assurance.
With the approach we're putting forward, I'm aiming to stay at Thunderbird Hotel Principal in Lima, Hotel Libertador in Cuzco, and Sumaq Hotel in Machu Picchu. My brother's in-laws want to arrive a day early and make a day-trip down to Ica, to fly over the Nazca lines. Expensive, but if it makes the trip for them, then it would be worth it.
What were your logistics? What were your impressions of your suppliers?
With the approach we're putting forward, I'm aiming to stay at Thunderbird Hotel Principal in Lima, Hotel Libertador in Cuzco, and Sumaq Hotel in Machu Picchu. My brother's in-laws want to arrive a day early and make a day-trip down to Ica, to fly over the Nazca lines. Expensive, but if it makes the trip for them, then it would be worth it.
What were your logistics? What were your impressions of your suppliers?
I was "working" when I was there so I didn't really get to try out any of the tour companies....
We stayed at the Marrriott in Lima (right across from cool shopping center that was built into the waterfront cliffs), and for the life of me I can't remember the name of that place.....but it was in the Miraflores section...Largo del Mar maybe???
Most of the Cuzco/Macchu Picchu hotels are directly related to the tourism industry and the Embassy in Lima has no problem pointing you in the right direction there...
I didn't get to see the Nazca lines, but I would really like to go back and check them out...
I spend a good bit of time in Iquitos, too, and that was cool...Amazon!!!
My brother and sister in law ( who is Peruvian and her family lives in Lima) got married there in 1993. Mom, Dad and I went down for the wedding. We stayed in a nice bed and breakfast type hotel in the Miraflores section of Lima.
The day after their wedding we flew to Cuzco where we stayed for 2 days. We toured the city and some of the ruins nearby. Be sure to spend some time in Cuzco as it is a beautiful little city filled with Inca ruins. The city has in some cases been built right on top of and around ruins. Just outside the city is Sacsayhuman, one of the most impressive ruins outside Macchu Picchu.
We were offered Mate de Coca upon arrival to Cuzco, and it did help with the altitude. Be forewarned, that it is a derivative of the coca plant....which is also used to make cocaine.
From Cuzco we took the tourist train up to Macchu Picchu. There are several levels of service, and the "tourist" train was the middle level. It was a nice, comfortable ride with snacks available on board. The scenery is beautiful and at times heartbreaking as you will pass through little villages were the poverty is simply unimaginable. There is a luxury train offered now, that most tourists do splurge on which offers meal service and alcoholic beverages. It is quite expensive from what I understand.
We stayed at a hotel right off the train tracks in Aguas Calientes, the town at the foot of Macchu Picchu. We took the bus, available at the train depot up the Macchu Picchu. We opted to spend 2 days exploring the ruins. The first day we did a walking tour, which I highly recommend as it gave us all sorts of interesting facts about the site. The second day we climbed the mountain behind the ruins called Hayuna Picchu. I highly recommend making the climb as the veiw from the top is spectacular. The climb, although steep, is relatively easy as there are steps carved into the rock. Take plenty of water and stop to rest so altitude sickness does not get the better of you. One thing to note, the altitude is higher and temperature cooler in Cuzco. Macchu Picchu is actually in a valley and is hotter than the city.
Once we were back in Cuzco we took another all day tour which took us to some of the Inca ruins that are around Cuzco and we finished up the tour with a visit to the marketplace in Pisac. This is truly NOT to be missed as it will give you a real glimpse into the Quecha way of life. There are Peruvian crafts for sale as well as every type of food imaginable. Another warning...the food market is not for the squeamish, especially the butcher section.
Also something to note. Be careful of the street food. Very often it is not cooked to or kept at the proper temperature. Another food issue to note: My dad had lasagna in an Italian restaurant in Cuzco. The rest of us had pasta that had been boiled. Dad got horribly sick and my sister in law said that could be due to the fact that when they make lasagna they often do not cook the noodles in boiling water, just hot water to make them soft. The water in Cuzco was not safe to drink when we were there and we were advised to drink only bottled water.
Also be aware of "baggage handlers" at the airports. They will often attempt to grab your baggage and then make you pay and exorbitant amount of money to get it back from them. There are money changers on the streets, especially in Cuzco. While they might give you a better exchange rate than you will get in a bank, not always. Proceed with caution, especially if you do not speak Spanish.
The food was wonderful, especially the local delicacies. Try ceviche, chicharron de Chanca, and Lomo Saltado. If Cuy is offered....pass on it. It is truly an acquired taste.
Have fun and let us all know how your trip was!
Linda
The day after their wedding we flew to Cuzco where we stayed for 2 days. We toured the city and some of the ruins nearby. Be sure to spend some time in Cuzco as it is a beautiful little city filled with Inca ruins. The city has in some cases been built right on top of and around ruins. Just outside the city is Sacsayhuman, one of the most impressive ruins outside Macchu Picchu.
We were offered Mate de Coca upon arrival to Cuzco, and it did help with the altitude. Be forewarned, that it is a derivative of the coca plant....which is also used to make cocaine.
From Cuzco we took the tourist train up to Macchu Picchu. There are several levels of service, and the "tourist" train was the middle level. It was a nice, comfortable ride with snacks available on board. The scenery is beautiful and at times heartbreaking as you will pass through little villages were the poverty is simply unimaginable. There is a luxury train offered now, that most tourists do splurge on which offers meal service and alcoholic beverages. It is quite expensive from what I understand.
We stayed at a hotel right off the train tracks in Aguas Calientes, the town at the foot of Macchu Picchu. We took the bus, available at the train depot up the Macchu Picchu. We opted to spend 2 days exploring the ruins. The first day we did a walking tour, which I highly recommend as it gave us all sorts of interesting facts about the site. The second day we climbed the mountain behind the ruins called Hayuna Picchu. I highly recommend making the climb as the veiw from the top is spectacular. The climb, although steep, is relatively easy as there are steps carved into the rock. Take plenty of water and stop to rest so altitude sickness does not get the better of you. One thing to note, the altitude is higher and temperature cooler in Cuzco. Macchu Picchu is actually in a valley and is hotter than the city.
Once we were back in Cuzco we took another all day tour which took us to some of the Inca ruins that are around Cuzco and we finished up the tour with a visit to the marketplace in Pisac. This is truly NOT to be missed as it will give you a real glimpse into the Quecha way of life. There are Peruvian crafts for sale as well as every type of food imaginable. Another warning...the food market is not for the squeamish, especially the butcher section.
Also something to note. Be careful of the street food. Very often it is not cooked to or kept at the proper temperature. Another food issue to note: My dad had lasagna in an Italian restaurant in Cuzco. The rest of us had pasta that had been boiled. Dad got horribly sick and my sister in law said that could be due to the fact that when they make lasagna they often do not cook the noodles in boiling water, just hot water to make them soft. The water in Cuzco was not safe to drink when we were there and we were advised to drink only bottled water.
Also be aware of "baggage handlers" at the airports. They will often attempt to grab your baggage and then make you pay and exorbitant amount of money to get it back from them. There are money changers on the streets, especially in Cuzco. While they might give you a better exchange rate than you will get in a bank, not always. Proceed with caution, especially if you do not speak Spanish.
The food was wonderful, especially the local delicacies. Try ceviche, chicharron de Chanca, and Lomo Saltado. If Cuy is offered....pass on it. It is truly an acquired taste.
Have fun and let us all know how your trip was!
Linda
I suppose doubly-so for a vegetarian, like me.
Unfortunately, I suspect that I'll miss-out a bit on the food, given that so many local delicacies are meat-based.
Thanks for your insights!
I did the Peru Adventures By Disney. Loved, loved, loved it. I would go back to Peru in a heartbeat. Handsdown favorite trip ever. There are several threads about this trip on the ABD boards, and a sticky at the top with links to trip reports. Lots of good insights and ideas.
My brother's mother-in-law's husband (we're traveling with them) sent this to me:
I see that the only times that AbD is offering their tour for the rest of this brochure-year is in October, December and February.
Are they just getting in when it is cheap? That seems unlike Disney.
EDITED: I see that this is just the remaining tours they offer:
But they do offer the tour other times during the year.
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Travel-g294311-s208/Peru:Weather.And.When.To.Go.html
I see that the only times that AbD is offering their tour for the rest of this brochure-year is in October, December and February.
Are they just getting in when it is cheap? That seems unlike Disney.EDITED: I see that this is just the remaining tours they offer:
http://abd.disney.go.com/abd/en_US/destination?name=PeruLandingPage
But they do offer the tour other times during the year.
Corroberated:
I think we're aiming now toward an early May vacation.
http://www.lonelyplanet.com/peru/weather
I think we're aiming now toward an early May vacation.
Share this page
-
See The 2026 Universal Mardi Gras Tribute Store and ALL the New Merch
-
Disney Wishables Adds New Shimmering 'Zootopia' Series
-
This Walking Olaf Animatronic Is Pure Frozen Joy
-
New Disney x Loungefly Exclusives Every Collector Must See!
-
Preorder the NEW Winnie the Pooh Disney x LEGO Sets Now!
-
New 'Women Who Make the Magic' Tour Coming to Disneyland Resort
-
Disney's Famous Evil Queen Fired for Breaking the Rules?
Disney Vacation Planning. Free. Done for You.
Our Authorized Disney Vacation Planners are here to provide personalized, expert advice, answer every question, and uncover the best discounts.
Let Dreams Unlimited Travel take care of all the details, so you can sit back, relax, and enjoy a stress-free vacation.
Start Your Disney Vacation
