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Peru Information and Travel Plan
Google map, hostel details, activities, nightlife and cost calculation
As a member you will have, in addition to the information in this document, also a Google map with marked locations of hostels, airports, bus/train/metro stations, nightlife areas, night clubs, salsa clubs, sightseeing locations and other locations of interest.
You will furthermore have important accommodation details such as price and contact information beside other information about activities and nightlife.
You will also have a detailed cost estimation.
Internet resources and guidebooks
http://www.adlibris.com/se/product.aspx?isbn=174179014X
http://wikitravel.org/en/Cuzco
http://wikitravel.org/en/Puerto_Maldonado
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lake_Sandoval
http://wikitravel.org/en/Lake_Titicaca
http://wikitravel.org/en/Arequipa
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colca_Canyon
Money
Peruvian Nuevo Sol (PEN), http://www.travelhelp.se/swedish/currency.asp.
It is important to have a credit card for extra expenses. If for instance the airplane cannot land in the Amazon due to bad weather then you have to spend extra nights at the lodge which you have to pay for.
Visa
Visa is not required for people from Sweden.
Climate & When To Go
Rain period in Andes from February ( October? ) to April. It rains most during the end of February and in the beginning of Mars.
A little less rain in Amazonas from May until October. Best from June to October.
Lima
Arequipa
Cuzco
Flights, airports & airport transfers
Useful address is www.world-airport-codes.com.
http://www.world-airport-codes.com/peru/jorge-chavez-international-4107.html
http://www.lap.com.pe/lap_portal/ingles/index.asp
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jorge_Ch%C3%A1vez_International_Airport
http://www.world-airport-codes.com/peru/rodriguez-ballon-350.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rodr%C3%ADguez_Ball%C3%B3n_International_Airport
http://www.world-airport-codes.com/peru/velazco-astete-1771.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alejandro_Velasco_Astete_International_Airport
Getting around
Dangers & Annoyances
Peru is often said to be one of the most dangerous countries in South America.
Hotels are not entirely trustworthy either. Lock your valuables inside your luggage or use safety deposit services.
All important documents should be photocopied. Leave one copy at home.
Avoid travelling on overnight buses. Buses have been hijacked by criminals posing as fellow passengers.
Peru is now the world's second largest producer of cocaine. Avoid some places in the jungle.
Armed attackers can grab you out of your taxi on roads leading to and from Lima's airport when traffic slows down.
Travel route alternatives
TravelPlan
Not going to Nasca.
Not going to Islas Ballestas outside Pisco.
Lima ( 1 night, Thursday => Friday )
Car: Home => Landvetter airport
Going from home 3:40
Flight ( KLM ): Gothenburg 09:30 => Lima 18:10
Airport Lima:
Map over the airport.
http://www.lap.com.pe/ingles/2nivel.html
http://www.lap.com.pe/ingles/1nivel.html
Activities:
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attractions-g294316-Activities-Lima.html
Check if I can take the bus when I arrive from Arequipa.
A good alternative to a taxi is to catch the safe and easy Urbanito bus which cost 4.50-6 USD to the centre/Miraflores. It will take you to the hotel you want. Urbanito has a desk near the official taxi counter, but someone usually approaches with a sign as travellers come out of customs.
( Super Shuttle Airport minibuses (tel: (01) 517 2557/8; website: www.supershuttleairport.com) run to/from central Lima, stopping along the main avenues in the city, Abancay, Tacna and Wilson avenues. )
Taxi: Lima airport => Barranco's Backpackers Inn
We have booked a taxi pickup at Barranco's Backpakers Inn. Make sure nobody can open the taxi-doors from outside!
It is only a few meters to taxis and other transportation after passing through customs. Within the airport concourse are official taxi booking desks. Outside the airport arrivals area are official and semi-official taxis, and outside the airport perimeter itself are local taxis. For an official taxi you will pay 20-23 USD to central Lima or Miraflores. You will pay between 10-15 USD for a taxi outside the arrival concourse or under 10 USD for a local taxi.
Activities:
We should arrive to the hostel around 18:00 local time. It is midnight in Sweden. The best thing to do is just trying to sleep since the days in the Amazon will be very active. If you cannot sleep you may check prices for things to buy so you know if you should buy them on your journey or wait until you come back.
Arrange a taxi for the trip to the airport the next day.
Accommodation: Hostel in Lima
Amazon Lodge 1 ( 2 nights, Friday => Sunday )
Taxi: Barranco's Backpackers Inn => Lima airport ( LIM )
Barranco's Backpackers Inn can arrange a safe trip to the airport by taxi for 12 USD.
( Call a taxi in advance for better security and pay the full 15-25 USD fare to the airport. )
Allow over an hour to the airport from the centre except before 6:30 when traffic is light.
Flight ( Taca International ): Lima 05:40 => Puerto Maldonado ( the Amazon ) 12:30
Take a taxi 3.5 hours before departure.
Flights can be overbooked so check in at least 2 hours before departure.
The departure/boarding tax is 6 USD from Lima for domestic flights. Pay the tax in cash, dollars or nueves soles, before proceeding to departure gates.
Sit on the left side from Lima to get the best view of Salkantay's 6271 m peak.
In
the evening rush (around 7 - 10 PM) prepare to wait in 5 separate queues, each
of which is long and slow. In order:
(1) your airline check-in line, probably similar to other airports where local
personnel handle few flights, thus being extremely slow.
(2) Go into the almost-secure area (battling your way through hundreds of
onlookers) and into the Departure Tax line for purchase of same. Then into a
small line (not counted in the five) where some guy inputs your tax sticker and
you go through a turnstile.
(3) Wait an interminable time to have the local police check your immigration
card (issued upon arrival) and see if you are wanted for something or other. If
really busy, the line to leave the desk wraps through the other desks resulting
in a huge, unmoving cross-blocking situation.
(4) Finally conventional immigration which, because of a dozen lanes, seems to
run a little smoother than the others but the you run into the huge backup
for...
(5) ...physical security where they are anal about carry-on bags.
Once through, it is reasonably pleasant but this process takes upwards of an
hour or over when really busy (which is nightly). They say to arrive 3 hours in
advance of your flight ... that is marginal.
Car and boat: Puerto Maldonado airport ( PEM ) => Sandoval Lake Lodge
The small airport is located 7 km north of Puerto Maldonado.
Sandoval Lake Lodge will arrange the transfer which is included in the price.
Activities:
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attractions-g298441-Activities-Puerto_Maldonado.html
Accommodation: Lodge (SLL) in Amazon
Amazon Lodge 2 ( 2 nights, Sunday => Tuesday )
Boat: Sandoval Lake Lodge => Corto Maltes
"I think would be good to stay at two different lodges, that will give you the chance to see much more.
It is possible for us to take you to Corto Maltes after staying at our Sandoval Lake lodge, because this one is on the way back to Puerto Maldonado, so our boat will leave you there, with no extra cost."
"On Ocrober 5th our boat will drop you to the entrance of Corto Maltes, between 8 and 8:30 AM, and they will inform this to the staff of Corto Maltes, so they will wait for you."
Activities:
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attractions-g298441-Activities-Puerto_Maldonado.html
Accommodation: Lodge (CM) in Amazon
Cusco ( 1st of 3 nights, Tuesday => Wednesday )
Boat and car: Corto Maltes => Puerto Maldonado airport ( PEM )
Corto Maltes arrange the transfer to the airport.
Flight ( Taca International ): Puerto Maldonado 13:00 => Cuzco 13:55
The departure/boarding tax is 3.6 USD for this flight, payable after you get your boarding pass.
Taxi: Cusco airport ( CUZ ) => Loki Backpackers Hostel
The airport is a few kilometres south of the city centre. Frequent colectivos run Av El Sol to just outside the airport (0.30 USD). A taxi from the city centre to just outside the airport costs 2.70 USD or 3.60 USD to the airport terminal itself. With advance reservation many hotels and guesthouses offer free pickup services.
Ruthless robberies in taxis have been on the rise. When taking cabs, use only official taxis, look for the company's lit telephone number on top of the taxi. Lock your doors from the inside and never allow the driver to admit a second passenger.
One recommended company is Alo Taxi, www.alocusco.com, whose drivers are all licensed and should carry photo ID.
Map: Loki Backpackers Hostel
Loki Cusco is located on a hill 5 blocks from Cusco's main square in the historic area of Santa Ana.
Activities:
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attractions-g294314-Activities-Cusco.html
The most important thing is to buy the reserved bus tickets for Puno which have to be done 2-3 days before departure. The address is;
Av.La Paz C-32 Urb El Ovalo- Wanchaq/ Telf. 084-247887
When we are in Cuszo we can also pay for the tour to the Colca Canyon. In the case they dont receive the deposit 3 days before the tour departure they will cancel the reservation.
Take it easy and adjust to thin air up in the mountains at 3326 m.
Check out different tours to the Sacred Valley.
Buy a 'Boleto Turistico' for 21 USD to be able to visit nearly all of the sights.
More tourists are robbed in Cuzco than in any other Peruvian city. Take special care going to and from the train stations for pickpockets and bag slashers. Avoid walking by yourself late at night or very early in the morning.
Accommodation: Hostel in Cuzco
Cuzco / Machu Picchu ( 2nd of 3 nights, Wednesday => Thursday )
Taxi: Loki Backpackers Hostel => Train station
The San Pedro train station, for trips to Machu Picchu, is in a bad neighbourhood, less than a kilometre walk west of Plaza de Arms. It can be better to take a taxi.
Taxi from hotel to train-station. Trips within the city center should cost around 1 USD.
Train: Aguas Calientes ( Machu Picchu )
Cusco 06:50 => Machu Picchu 10:51
Machu Picchu 17:03 => Cusco 21:19
Make reservations and buy tickets as far ahead of time as possible on www.perurail.com. 2*48 USD
Bus: Aguas Calientes => Machu Picchu => Aguas Calientes
It is possible to walk up to Machu Picchu from the train station but far more comfortable to take the bus. A roundtrip cost 12 USD.
Taxi: Poroy or Cuzco train-station => Loki Backpackers Hostel
Taxi from train-station to hotel. Trips within the city center should cost around 1 USD.
( You can cut the return journey short by up to 45 minutes by getting off at Poroy and catching a taxi for around 5 USD back to Cuzco. )
Important!
If there are no seats available on the train from Machu Picchu to Cusco you can do the following:
Take a train from Machu Picchu to Ollantaytambo.
Machu Picchu 18:03 => Ollanta 19:35 31? USD.
Frequent colectivo minibuses and taxis shuttle between Urubamba's main bus terminal and Plaza de Arms in Ollantaytambo with services petering out in late afternoon or early evening. The cost is 0.3 USD for 30 minutes journey. To get back to Cuzco, it is easiest to change in Urubamba from where both buses and colectivo taxis frequently leave. 4.5 USD.
Activities:
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attractions-g294318-Activities-Machu_Picchu_Sacred_Valley.html
Accommodation: Hostel in Cuzco
Cusco ( 3rd of 3 nights, Thursday => Friday )
Guided Tour: Sacred Valley
A multitude of travel agencies in Cuzco offer whirlwind tours of the Sacred Valley, stopping at markets and the most significant archaeological sites. The valley is located about 15 km north of Cuzco. ??? USD
Peruadventure tours has a tour to the Sacred Valley. The address is;
http://www.peruadventurestours.com/en/cusco/sacred_valley1.html
At 9am you will be pick up from your hotel and start completely guide tour to lovely Sacred Valley of the Incas. This tour includes visit to the Andean native markets and ruins of Pisac and Calca, stop for lunch in Urubamba, a visit to the beautiful Inca village and fortress of Ollantaytambo and stop at the Quechua village of Chinchero, where we appreciate the local church and the Inca ruins. At 6pm return to Cusco city and end of our service. The tour cost 115 USD! Is it really worth it?
Activities:
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attractions-g294314-Activities-Cusco.html
Accommodation: Hostel in Cuzco
Puno ( 4 nights, Friday => Tuesday )
Taxi: Loki Backpackers Hostel => Bus station
Taxi to bus station 1 USD.
Bus: Cuzco bus station => Puno bus station
Departure 7:30 in the morning.
Departure tax for all passengers, 0.3 USD?
Inca Express, www.inkexpress.com, and other companies run luxury tour busses sporting panoramic windows between Cuszco and Puno. 25 USD includes an English-speaking tour guide. It takes 6-7 hours.
Buy a bus ticket to Arequipa when you arrive at the station in Puno.
Taxi: Puno bus station => Kusillo's Posada
Taxi to hotel from bus-station 1 USD.
Map: Kusillo's Posada
Everything in the town centre is within easy walking distance including bus terminal and port. A short taxi ride anywhere in town costs otherwise about 1 USD.
Activities:
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attractions-g298442-Activities-Puno.html
Puno is located at the Lake Titicaca which is the world's highest navigable lake with passenger boat services, and South America's largest lake - over 170 km in length and 60 km in breadth. According to legend, this is where the first Inca Manco Capac, son of the sun god Inti, emerged. At this altitude, temperature average less than 15 degrees year-round. During the winter months of June to August the temperature can drop well below freezing. The website www.titicacaalmundo.com has good general information on the area.
Activity: Spend a night on Taquile island
Walking: Kusillo's Posada => Boat
Boat: Puno => Taquile island
Passenger boats for the excruciating slow 35 km trip to Taquile leave Puno's dock every day between 7:30 am and 8:30 am. It cost 6 USD and takes three hours. Go to the dock early and pay the captain directly.
At the dock, local porters are on hand to help carry your luggage for around 3 USD. Independent travellers will be met by a group of inhabitants next to the arch at the top of the stairs up from the dock. These islanders can arrange accommodation in familiar guesthouses that sleep up to 10 people. There is a standard charge of about 3 USD per person per night. Beds are basic but clean, and facilities are minimal. You will be given some blankets, but if possible bring a sleeping bag too as it gets very cold at night.
You can buy bottled drinks, and boiled tea is usually safe to drink, though it's worth bringing purifying tablets or a filter as backup.
Accommodation: Familiar guesthouse on Taquile island, 3 USD
Boat: Taquile island => Puno
The return trip from the Taquile Island leaves in the early afternoon, arriving in Puno around nightfall.
Walking: Boat => Kusillo's Posada
Activity: Boat tour to the Uro’s islands
Just 5 km east of Puno's harbour, the unique floating islands of the Uros people are Lake Titicaca's top tourist attraction. There is still nothing quite like them to be found anywhere else in the world.
Getting to the Islas Flotantes is easy, just go down to the dock in Puno and within minutes you'll be asked to take a trip to the islands. You can go with the next tour group for 3 USD. Pay only at the dock's official ticket booth.
It is best to leave as early as possible. The standard tour, visiting the main island and one or two others, takes around two hours. Boats leave when they have 15 to 20 passengers.
Activities:
Puno is a good town to get quality woolen and alpaca sweaters at a fair price. Stop by CIAP, a local nonprofit cooperative inside the Casa del Corregidor, just off the Plaza de Arms.
Dangers:
Do not walk alone in the Huajsapata Park or El Arco Deusta since several robberies have been reported.
Accommodation: Hotel in Puno
Arequipa ( 2 nights, Tuesday => Thursday )
Taxi: Kusillo's Posada => Bus station
Bus: Puno => Arequipa
The roads to Arequipa is now paved and fast. It takes 5-6 hours and cost 3.60 - 7.50 USD.
Taxi: Arequipa bus station => Arequipay Backpackers Hostel
Arequipay Backpackers Hostel can pick you up at the bus station.
You can take a taxi inside the bus station and the cost is 5 soles or 1.50 USD or you can take it outside the bus station and de cost is 3 soles or 0.80 USD. The ride takes about five minutes. It is recommended to take a taxi inside the bus station because it is secure.
Activities:
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attractions-g294313-Activities-Arequipa.html
Check in and book a tour to the Colca canyon as fast as possible. Book one for the day after tomorrow if they are fully booked. See page 170 for agencies.
Activities:
Sightseeing in Arequipa.
Accommodation: Hostel in Arequipa
Chivay ( 1 night, Thursday => Friday )
Guided tour:
The following information is from the LonelyPlanet guide book 2007.
All tours leave Arequipa between 7 am and 9 am, passing through the Reserva Nacional Salinas.
The hot springs of Chivay are almost always visited before sunset, so bring a swimsuit and a towel.
The canyon beside another one close by are the deepest in the world at 3191 m. Amazingly, both canyons are more than twice as deep as the Grand Canyon in the USA.
The standard two-day tour of the Colca canyon costs 20-75 USD (assume 50 USD) per person, depending on group size and comfort level of the hotel you choose to stay at in Chivay
Peru Adventure Tour has a tour described on the following address;
http://www.peruadventurestours.com/en/arequipa/colca_canyon_tour.html
The cost is from 84 USD ( DWB = DoubleWithBath ) or 97 USD ( SWB = SingleWithBath )
Accommodation: Chivay in Colca canyon.
Arequipa / Colca Canyon ( 1 night, Friday => Saturday )
Guided tour:
Departure is around 6 am to reach Cruz del Condor by 8:30 am for an hour or so of condor-spotting, before returning to Arequipa. A large family of Andean condors nests by the rocky outcrop and, with lots of luck, they can occasionally be seen gliding effortlessly on thermal air currents rising from the canyon, swooping low over onlookers' heads.
Activities:
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attractions-g795933-Activities-Colca_Canyon.html
Accommodation: Hostel in Arequipa
Lima ( 2 nights, Saturday => Monday )
Taxi: Arequipay Backpackers Hostel => Arequipay airport
The airport is about 8 km northwest of the city centre. There are no airport busses. A taxi from downtown costs about 4.20 USD.
Flight ( Taca International ): Arequipa 07:30 => Lima 09:00
The departure/boarding tax is 3.6 USD for this flight, payable after you get your boarding pass.
Bus: Lima airport ( LIM ) => Barranco's Backpackers Inn
A good alternative to a taxi is to catch the safe and easy Urbanito bus which cost 4.50-6 USD to the centre/Miraflores. It will take you to the hotel you want. Urbanito has a desk near the official taxi counter, but someone usually approaches with a sign as travellers come out of customs.
Activities:
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attractions-g294316-Activities-Lima.html
Over 8 million people live in Lima.
Buy a map in a bookstore.
Barranco is by far the simplest place in Lima to go club-hopping. Miraflores also has some busy clubs, centred on Parque Central and LarcoMar shopping centre.
Live Peruvian music and dance is performed from Thursday to Saturday.
Shop prices tend to be high.
You are unlikely to get physically hurt but travellers regularly have their belongings stolen and muggings can happen. Look out for gangs of youths playing soccer. They have been known to mug (råna) lone travellers. Use taxis to get around at night.
Accommodation: Hostel in Lima
Onboard plane ( 1 night, Monday => Tuesday )
Taxi: Barranco's Backpackers Inn => Lima airport ( LIM )
Barranco's Backpackers Inn can arrange a safe trip to the airport by taxi for 12 USD.
Call a taxi in advance for better security and pay the full 15-25 USD fare to the airport. Make sure nobody can open the taxi-doors from outside. Allow over an hour to the airport from the centre except before 6:30 when traffic is light.
Flight ( KLM ): Lima 20:15 => Gothenburg 22:30 next day
Departure tax for international flights is 28.10 USD. Pay the tax in cash before proceeding to departure gates.
Accommodation: Onboard plane
Home ( Tuesday )
Flight: Amsterdam airport => Landvetter airport
KLM - KL1157: 15:15 => 16:45