Travel advice - Peru and Machu Picchu

[Froomee]

Thinking about travelling to Peru in the coming months.

A few questions:

1) current plan is to visit Lima, Cusco and Machu Picchu? Any other places to consider?
2) How long to spend in each place and any guidance on itinerary?
3) When travelling to Machu Picchu is it better to do a day trip? If not then is it better to stop at places nearer to Machu Picchu?
4) if walking the trail over a number of days where do you leave your luggage? Is it possible to leave it at a hotel or do I need to pack suitably?
5) currently there are some travel warnings in some regions, is this normal? would it still be safe to travel?

Any other advice greatly appreciated.

[GT03ROB]

We went to Peru last November. We were only there for a week before heading up to Ecuador & the Galapagos. So a few answers from my perspective

Froomee said:

1) current plan is to visit Lima, Cusco and Machu Picchu? Any other places to consider?

We flew into Lima, then up to Cusco, but then travelled from Cusco to Ollantaytambo, before heading up to Machu Picchu. Ollantaytambo is in the Sacred valley

Froomee said:

2) How long to spend in each place and any guidance on itinerary?

As we were only there for a week it was areal whistle stop tour, early starts, late finishes. 10 days could have made the trip a lot more relaxed. Once you get up to Cusco the altitude can tire you even more. As i said above we started in Lima; flew up to Cusco; by coach to Ollantaytambo where we stayed for a few nights; a night near Machu Picchu; 2 nights in Cusco; then back to Lima

Froomee said:

3) When travelling to Machu Picchu is it better to do a day trip? If not then is it better to stop at places nearer to Machu Picchu?

We caught the train from Ollantaytambo to Aquas Calientes around lunchtime, its a 90 min trip. Stayed in Aquas Calientes, which is the closest town to Machu Picchu. There are buses from there up to Macchu Pichu which you need to get tickets for based on your Macchu Pichu entry ticket. You get allocated an entry time & also a route around Machu Picchu which is strictly controlled. 1st entrance is around 7am. You want an entry as early as possible to miss the crowds.A day trip, in my view, would be too much.

Froomee said:

4) if walking the trail over a number of days where do you leave your luggage? Is it possible to leave it at a hotel or do I need to pack suitably?

Hotels are used to you leaving baggage

Froomee said:

5) currently there are some travel warnings in some regions, is this normal? would it still be safe to travel?

Normal & safe(ish)!

Some of my photos from the trip are here

https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

[DeejRC]

I thought there was/is a revolution currently going on? Or had been within the last yr?

[mikef]

Advice from my daughter is to plan for 2 - 3 days in Cuzco to acclimatise to the altitude before considering any hiking including MP - and try to stay off alcohol up there if you can

[Wilmslowboy]

Book it through a tour operator such as Lima travel.

We did it last year, 3 weeks in total - could not have been been better organised (great guides).

We go the train up to Machu Picchu, stayed in the hotel by the entrance (amazing place) met a few people who hiked, said the walk was not too bad but the accommodation/ camping was very primitive.



Day 1 Fri 17-May-24 Fly to Lima (2 nights)
Day 2 Sat 18-May-24 Colonial Lima excursion
Day 3 Sun 19-May-24 Fly to the jungle and boat transfer to your jungle lodge (3 nights)
Day 4 Mon 20-May-24 Jungle excursions
Day 5 Tue 21-May-24 Jungle excursions
Day 6 Wed 22-May-24 Fly to Cusco (3 nights)
Day 7 Thu 23-May-24 Sacred Valley excursion. Extend your stay by also taking our Two Nights in the Sacred Valley excursion
Day 8 Fri 24-May-24 Second day of optional Two Nights in the Sacred Valley excursionor free day in Cusco
Day 9 Sat 25-May-24 Walk the Short Inca Trail and stay in Aguas Calientes (1 night)
Day 10 Sun 26-May-24 Visit Machu Picchu then return to Cusco (2 nights)
Day 11 Mon 27-May-24 Inca Cusco excursion
Day 12 Tue 28-May-24 Belmond Train to Lake Titicaca (1 night)
Day 13 Wed 29-May-24 Early morning Kayaking on Lake Titicaca. Full day on Lake Titicaca, visiting the Uros Islands and Taquile Island (1 night)
Day 14 Thu 30-May-24 Visit Sillustani before travelling overland to the Colca Canyon (1 night)
Day 15 Fri 31-May-24 Visit the edge of the canyon before driving over the altiplano to Arequipa (2 nights)
Day 16 Sat 01-Jun-24 City tour of Arequipa, including Santa Catalina Convent
Day 17 Sun 02-Jun-24 Fly to Lima then take coach to Paracas (2 nights)
Day 18 Mon 03-Jun-24 Flight over the Nazca Lines excursion
Day 19 Tue 04-Jun-24 Morning Ballestas Islands Wildlife excursion. Return to Lima in the afternoon (1 night)
Day 20 Wed 05-Jun-24 Optional Peru on a Plate excursion. Flight to the UK
Day 21 Thu 06-Jun-24 Arrival in the UK