Because I am so interested in visiting ruins Machu Picchu has been on my list of must sees for a long time. My husband and I have decided to visit Peru in 2017.
Background information: Husband, age 74, and me, age 72, are both retired and would normally take a month or longer to travel to another country/destination. Initial plan was to spend 2 weeks in Peru focusing on Machu Picchu and other nearby areas and then swing over to Ecuador for time in Quito, a week long Galapagos cruise, and several days on the 3 main islands so my husband could scuba dive. I soon discovered that the Galapagos boats average 16 or so passengers and the one whose itinerary was perfect was sold out for all of 2017 and even 2018!! So no Ecuador this trip. Just Peru. Then my 93 year old mom who is in a nursing home started to show signs of failing health so we decided 2 weeks in Peru would have to do. My brother would be there for my mom but still.........
I had gotten lots of help from the Trip Advisor forums for our recent trips to Alaska and TCI/Provo so I decided to browse the Peru forum to get some ideas for this trip.
I read some trip reports as well as posts from others requesting help. I developed a tentative itinerary and posted it on TA for feedback which I got. Made a few tweeks. Thanks go out to Gigis_mum, wes032, xochitl, paolo C for answering some of my questions. Helpful tips on Machu Picchu from USALouise. Enjoyed soniaToronto's trip report and wished I was young enough to do all the hiking she did! Encouragement/support from bigwawao who was traveling to Peru shortly after me. I'm sure there are many more and I thank you all. I also used reviews on TA to help me choose hotels and make up a list of recommended restaurants.
With my itinerary mostly set I then booked my international flight. Jet Blue offered the best deal. Round trip flight from Buffalo, NY to Lima and return at $1124.00 booked for 2 adults using expedia.com. Then trip insurance. Because I had free cancellation at the hotels my trip insurance was mainly to cover the amounts I'd be out if I did have to cancel the trip. I also wanted a policy with good medical evacuation. Used www.insuremytrip.com and compared some plans. Settled on AIG Travel Guard Gold. Cost $416.00. Made reservation to park our car for the time we'd be gone. Had used ALOFT before and booked them again. They provide shuttle service to and from our Buffalo/Niagara Airport. Cost $104.00.
Hotels: Booked August and September 2016
Costa del Sol Wyndham Lima Airport-twin room 1 night Cost $187.11
Background information: Husband, age 74, and me, age 72, are both retired and would normally take a month or longer to travel to another country/destination. Initial plan was to spend 2 weeks in Peru focusing on Machu Picchu and other nearby areas and then swing over to Ecuador for time in Quito, a week long Galapagos cruise, and several days on the 3 main islands so my husband could scuba dive. I soon discovered that the Galapagos boats average 16 or so passengers and the one whose itinerary was perfect was sold out for all of 2017 and even 2018!! So no Ecuador this trip. Just Peru. Then my 93 year old mom who is in a nursing home started to show signs of failing health so we decided 2 weeks in Peru would have to do. My brother would be there for my mom but still.........
I had gotten lots of help from the Trip Advisor forums for our recent trips to Alaska and TCI/Provo so I decided to browse the Peru forum to get some ideas for this trip.
I read some trip reports as well as posts from others requesting help. I developed a tentative itinerary and posted it on TA for feedback which I got. Made a few tweeks. Thanks go out to Gigis_mum, wes032, xochitl, paolo C for answering some of my questions. Helpful tips on Machu Picchu from USALouise. Enjoyed soniaToronto's trip report and wished I was young enough to do all the hiking she did! Encouragement/support from bigwawao who was traveling to Peru shortly after me. I'm sure there are many more and I thank you all. I also used reviews on TA to help me choose hotels and make up a list of recommended restaurants.
With my itinerary mostly set I then booked my international flight. Jet Blue offered the best deal. Round trip flight from Buffalo, NY to Lima and return at $1124.00 booked for 2 adults using expedia.com. Then trip insurance. Because I had free cancellation at the hotels my trip insurance was mainly to cover the amounts I'd be out if I did have to cancel the trip. I also wanted a policy with good medical evacuation. Used www.insuremytrip.com and compared some plans. Settled on AIG Travel Guard Gold. Cost $416.00. Made reservation to park our car for the time we'd be gone. Had used ALOFT before and booked them again. They provide shuttle service to and from our Buffalo/Niagara Airport. Cost $104.00.
Hotels: Booked August and September 2016
Costa del Sol Wyndham Lima Airport-twin room 1 night Cost $187.11
Tierra Viva Machu Picchu-double room 2 nights Cost $306.00
El Albergue Ollantaytambo-superior double room with balcony 2 nights Cost $437.80
Above hotels booked through booking.com with free cancellation, breakfast. Other amenities-hairdryer, A/C, safe, free toiletries.
JW Marriott El Convento Cusco-classic Inca room 4 nights Cost $1290.39
This hotel I booked direct with free cancellation, breakfast. Important to my husband was the amenity of an indoor pool. It also had the important hairdryer as I didn't want to have to pack mine.
Casa Andina Private Collection Miraflores, Lima-superior room 5 nights Cost $808.75
This hotel I booked through expedia.com because the rate was so much lower due to my booking our international airfare with expedia. Included was free cancellation, breakfast. Other amenities-hairdryer, an indoor pool.
Local flight: Avianca Lima-Cusco-Lima Cost $280.50 for 2 adult round trip tickets which I booked directly with the Avianca web site in October 2016.
Machu Picchu: Since this was the main reason for the trip I decided to book my train tickets, entrance to MP site tickets, bus tickets in advance and all on line. It wasn't easy but doable.
Peru Rail Ollantaytambo-Aguas Calientes-Ollantaytambo Vistadome 1st leg Ollanta to AC Cost $134.00 for 2 adults one way. 2nd leg AC to Ollanta Cost $186.00 The different prices reflect the times you pick for your departures. Some time slots are cheaper than others.
Machu Picchu entry ticket for 5/4/17 Cost $97.19 for 2 adults. Machu Picchu/Huyana Picchu hike entry ticket for 5/5/17 Cost $127.88 for 2 adults.
Bus ticket Consettur for 5/4/17 Cost $50.16 If you buy in person cost is $24 pp or would be $48.00 for 2 adults. The extra amount is credit card fee. I had some trouble with this site so decided to purchase my bus ticket for 5/5/17 when I arrived at Aguas Calientes.
I went to a local bookstore and bought the travel book Machu Picchu including Cusco, the Inca Trail, and Lima published by MOON. I read it and highlighted areas of importance to me.
I used TA to check out things to do at each of our destinations in Peru. I then made a calendar for MAY 2017 with room to write in a daily schedule of sorts. I am a bit OCD but this schedule could be flexible if necessary as things don't always go the way you think they will. I also printed out our 2 week schedule which I will refer to for flight information, hotels, etc. By the time we returned home all of these pages had changes marked on them.
Above hotels booked through booking.com with free cancellation, breakfast. Other amenities-hairdryer, A/C, safe, free toiletries.
JW Marriott El Convento Cusco-classic Inca room 4 nights Cost $1290.39
This hotel I booked direct with free cancellation, breakfast. Important to my husband was the amenity of an indoor pool. It also had the important hairdryer as I didn't want to have to pack mine.
Casa Andina Private Collection Miraflores, Lima-superior room 5 nights Cost $808.75
This hotel I booked through expedia.com because the rate was so much lower due to my booking our international airfare with expedia. Included was free cancellation, breakfast. Other amenities-hairdryer, an indoor pool.
Local flight: Avianca Lima-Cusco-Lima Cost $280.50 for 2 adult round trip tickets which I booked directly with the Avianca web site in October 2016.
Machu Picchu: Since this was the main reason for the trip I decided to book my train tickets, entrance to MP site tickets, bus tickets in advance and all on line. It wasn't easy but doable.
Peru Rail Ollantaytambo-Aguas Calientes-Ollantaytambo Vistadome 1st leg Ollanta to AC Cost $134.00 for 2 adults one way. 2nd leg AC to Ollanta Cost $186.00 The different prices reflect the times you pick for your departures. Some time slots are cheaper than others.
Machu Picchu entry ticket for 5/4/17 Cost $97.19 for 2 adults. Machu Picchu/Huyana Picchu hike entry ticket for 5/5/17 Cost $127.88 for 2 adults.
Bus ticket Consettur for 5/4/17 Cost $50.16 If you buy in person cost is $24 pp or would be $48.00 for 2 adults. The extra amount is credit card fee. I had some trouble with this site so decided to purchase my bus ticket for 5/5/17 when I arrived at Aguas Calientes.
I went to a local bookstore and bought the travel book Machu Picchu including Cusco, the Inca Trail, and Lima published by MOON. I read it and highlighted areas of importance to me.
I used TA to check out things to do at each of our destinations in Peru. I then made a calendar for MAY 2017 with room to write in a daily schedule of sorts. I am a bit OCD but this schedule could be flexible if necessary as things don't always go the way you think they will. I also printed out our 2 week schedule which I will refer to for flight information, hotels, etc. By the time we returned home all of these pages had changes marked on them.
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