Peru
I decided to write a letter about our trip to Peru on May 1-17.2009, as there is very little information on this country, and our trip became possible only thanks to interesting and detailed descriptions of other tourists. So I will try to describe without lyrics those things that turned out to be necessary and useful for us.
All the points that I wanted to visit were selected and a detailed route was drawn up.
The route looked like this.
Day 1 - Arrive in Lima (capital of Peru)
Day 2 - We walk around Lima, buy air tickets to Cusco.
Day 3 - We fly to Cusco, settle in, buy a tour. Trip to Machu Picchu.
Day 4 - Drive to Aguas Calientas (the only city through which you can get to Machu Picchu)
Day 5 - We go to Machu Pikuchu, walk, in the evening we return to Cusco through Aguas Calientos.
Day 6 - We drive around the outskirts of Cusco (there are quite a few interesting places)
Day 7 - Drive to Puno.
Day 8 - Swimming on Lake Titi-Kaka, leaving for Arequipa.
Day 9 - We walk around Arequipa, relax.
Day 10 - We go to Kolko Canyon (this trip takes 2 days, since you need to be in the canyon no later than 9 am to make sure that the condor is really “passing”)
Day 11 - We visit the canyon, return to Arequipa.
Day 12 - We are going to Nazca.
13 dent - We fly over the Nazca lines, we go to Paracas.
Day 14 - We swim in the reserve in Paracas, look at countless outlandish animals, in one place. We return to Lima.
Day 15 - Home.
Looking ahead, I’ll say right away that we deviated from our route only once, due to force majeure circumstances, but despite this, we managed to see everything we wanted.
Why we chose this particular route, I will not explain, you read about all these places on the Internet and decide for yourself what exactly you are interested in. The only thing is that they tried to think over our road in such a way that they would lose a minimum of time for moving, but at the same time have a little rest and not travel at night.
Having studied the sea of information, we came to the conclusion that the best option, in terms of time and money, is offered by KLM Kyiv-Amsterdam-Lima. Tickets were ordered through an agency. But now I would book directly through the KLM website, you still get an electronic ticket, and by booking on your own you have more opportunities to save money, since the price can sometimes differ by 100 USD. just from the chosen day. Tickets cost us $1400 per nose, both ways.
It is important. Peru is a country in which the air temperature does not depend on the time of year (after all, the equator), but on the time of day and altitude. Accordingly, during the day the temperature could vary from +7 to +27. Snotty, coughing "pale faces" are there at every turn. And getting sick in such extreme conditions is very unpleasant. So I bought fleece jackets, thick windbreakers, trekking boots (but this is not necessary, 2 pairs of comfortable sneakers, this is what you need), but hats are warm and from the sun, gloves, thermal underwear and a boiler, I highly recommend. Also of the necessary things: All kinds of repellents (honestly, we almost didn’t see mosquitoes / mosquitoes there, but everyone warns, it’s better to be prepared) the strongest sunscreen (this is a must), the entire set of stomach medicines (we didn’t get sick, although we ate all). Yes, walkie-talkies were very useful. The three of us traveled and all the time scattered in different directions. The walkie-talkies helped us not to get lost.
Vaccinations.
We didn't. We carefully read that yellow fever is common only in the jungle, and our path passed through the mountainous part of Peru. Preventive measures against malaria were also not used, somehow I really did not like the side effects.
Again, the mosquitoes did not bite us.
Be sure to buy. Once in Thailand, she helped us out a lot. Please read the terms and conditions carefully. It is important that in the event of an insured event, you could call Ukraine, and you were provided with assistance on the spot. And not so that you figure it out yourself there, and then bring certificates to Ukraine and we will reimburse you.
Additionally.
They took 10 Spanish lessons, they helped a lot, they know English very rarely, and Spanish is easily perceived by ear. So even 10 lessons turned out to be useful.
The site selected hotels that were booked in Lima on the day of arrival and day of departure:
Having written a letter to the first hotel with a request, they waited for an answer with bated breath. When we were politely answered that I could offer such and such numbers for our dates, and whether we would like to order a transfer as well, we rejoiced like children, because this was the first proof that there really is life on the other side of the earth, and programs that we watched it is not fantasy.
When booking an advance payment is not taken.
And so, we prepared, inspired and frightened by swine flu set off on our journey.
Lima. The city is noisy and dirty, they say dangerous for tourists. Lots of police. We can't believe our eyes, we're in Latin America. . . everything delights, broken cars, cacti on the streets, the ocean, fog, a bathtub in the toilet. . . everyone without exception. We are euphoric.
The first day, we sleep off, the second we study the city. We buy tickets to Cusco. This can be done directly at the hotel or on any tour. agency. Addresses can be asked again at the hotel. Domestic flights are made by 3 airlines, prices can be compared already from Kyiv on an Internet.
Day three. Flight to Cusco. At the airport, we ask the taxi driver to bring us to the parade ground de Armaz. By that time, we already knew that all the central squares in all cities, except for Lima, are called that.
It should be noted that we did not book anywhere else, not hotels, not transport... Everything in Peru can be bought instantly, without any questions and tricks. Every third door in any city is either a hotel, or a restaurant, or a tour agency. We used their services all the time, we are used to in Peru that no one deceived us, and all promises were always kept, it is there on the coast, mainly in Lima, where Spanish blood boils, you still need to be careful. When you get to the mountains, where the “Incas”, as they explained to us, is a state of mind and not a nationality, you begin to believe in people.
In Cusco we check into a small hotel right on the square. Right there in the next courtyard we buy a trip to Machu Picchu. Cuzco welcomes us with a carnival and the first symptoms of altitude sickness. Well, we chew coca and do not lose heart. In the evening we try a guinea pig... Ugh, disgusting, they are much prettier live. Cusco is a very beautiful city.
I will not write about Aguas Calientos and Machu Picchu. That was great. Everyone writes about it. You will see everything yourself.
Upon returning from Machu Picchu, we spend another day on a detour around the sights around Cusco. And we're leaving for Puno.
Seventh day. We sit in a comfortable bus Inkatravel. All tickets for all trips we bought on the first day in Cusco, in several travel agencies. You can buy everything in one. It's just that we did not immediately establish ourselves with the route. By this time, we have already worked out for ourselves a way to choose a tour. agencies, the main factor for us was the knowledge of English from the seller. In buses Inkatravel, fed and entertained by races to all sorts of attractions on the way to Puno. Evening 2.00, we are in Puno, at the bus station, tired and a little confused. Our confusion lasts no longer than 3 minutes, a local Indian jumps up to us. So after 20 minutes, we are already settled in a decent hotel, and Uncle Oscar, as he introduced himself to us, promised that in the morning they would pick us up and take us to ride on Lake Titi-Kaka, and in the afternoon he would put us on a bus, which would bring us home in the evening us to Arequipa. Everything was so. Titi-Kaka is unrealistically beautiful, and the most delicious trout is served there. And the fact that they sell souvenirs at three prices, so don't buy it; In general, we liked it. Thank you Uncle Oscar.
Arequipa. We check into an expensive hotel (before that, our hotels cost from $ 20 to $ 35 for a double. This price includes everything you need, a toilet, a bath, hot water, clean bedding, breakfast), we decide to pamper ourselves and soak up the comfort. Hotel 65 $ for a double.
Arequipa is perhaps the most beautiful city, you feel a little like in Europe. White tablecloths, well-trained waiters.
Tenth day. We are leaving for a 2-day trip to Kolko Canyon. Canyon, condors, warm springs, an evening of unity with Peruvians, Brazilians, Chileans, pisco sour (a local cocktail, you will definitely drink it, it is served everywhere) flows like water.
We return to Arequipa.
Twelfth day. We sit in a comfortable bus, drink beer, admire the fantastic views of the desert, we go to Nazca, a city on the coast. After the tropical jungle, after the tundra and snowy peaks, we can only continue to marvel at the countless beauties of this country. We are happy. And of course, according to all the laws of the genre, it was at this moment that the plot was to be scrapped. The road is closed. As it turned out later, the miners were on strike (the other end of the earth and the problems were the same). And, as for evil, they had just begun to strike, and they sincerely assure that they had enough for three days. And there is only one road. We nervously begin to figure out when we have a plane, and really we will not see the Nazca lines. Evening, we return to Arequipa. Even at such an unfortunate moment, we continue to rejoice at the honesty of the Peruvians. Upon our return, they immediately give us money for tickets, despite the fact that they drove us all day, fed us, gave us water, and at the same time they apologize very much. In Ukraine, if you wanted to return the money, you would have to roll up more than one application and run around the authorities for more than one day.
The thirteenth day we arrive in Lima, realizing that there is little time left and there is simply no other option to get to the coast. We check in a day earlier at the booked hotel and understand that we have only one day left and two coveted points. But in Peru nothing is impossible. The hotel tells us that they will help solve our problem and find the right agency. In general, the fourteenth day. At 4 am a taxi is waiting for us under the hotel. In one day we manage to drive 1000 km. Swim around the Balestas Islands, see strange animals and fly over the Nazca lines. By evening we are in Lima. Our friend is practically dead, but happy that he saw THIS! The curtain! We are flying home. I'm carrying a collection of ponches, my husband has half a bag of stone idols.
If you do not believe that the Incas are a state of mind, then fly to Peru and you will see.
If you have any questions I'll be happy to answer.