Travel Answers

I have chronic back pain. Can I buy Vicodin in Cusco pharmacies ?

Hello Travel Experts!

We just booked our international tickets to Peru and I need some help planning my itinerary there. We're getting into Lima on June 28th and will be headed back to the US on July 7th. Here's what I have so far:

June 29th- morning flight to Puerto Maldonado - 3 nights in Refugio Amazonas
July 2nd - fly to Cucsco (afternoon flight) - 2 nights in Cusco (tues, wed nights)
July 4th (thu) - stay in olly (SV sights, Pisac)
July 5th (Fri) - early morning train to MP, spend day in MP, stay in Aguas calientes - Friday night
July 6th (Sat) - train back to Cusco. Spend last day and night relaxing in Cusco
July 7th (Sun) - early morning flight to Lima, intl flight back to US at 2:15 in the afternoon.

Couple of questions regarding this itinerary:
1. Does it make sense to spend 3 nights in PEM, or should I make it 2 nights and spend 1 extra day in the Cusco region?
2. With my current itinerary - I have 3 nights for Cusco - is that too much? Should I instead head back to Lima on July 6th Saturday and spend the day and night in Lima?
3. Is one night enough in Olly? I can also do 1 night in cusco, 2 nights in Olly, and then 1 night again in Cusco on the way back on Sat night?

Would love some feedback!!
By the way, we were thinking Refugio Amazonas for the rainforest stay - anyone have any feedback on that?

Thanks!!!

Choosing to trek from Cuzco to MP in late May. Are there any suitable place to mount the tent and is it really prohibited to make fire on the trek?

Hello,

I will be travelling to Cusco and Machu Picchu in June--yahooo!

1. Will American style plugs work for my phone charger in Peru?
2. I keep reading and hearing about water in Peru. I have plenty of water purification systems for backpacking--like ultraviolet light, chemical purifiers, and filters. Do I need to take some of them to Peru?
3. My pharmacist tells me to check bottled water in Peru to make sure it was bottled in the U.S. What do you think?

Thanks.

I'm considering travelling to Peru (probably Lima or Cusco) towards the end of the year to take a live-in Spanish course. I'm wondering if anyone has any suggestions of a short Spanish course (2-6 weeks) in Peru specifically designed for English speaking foreigners ?

I am flying into Cusco, and then going directly to Yucay in the Sacred Valley (I'll be coming back to Cusco later). Can anyone recommend how to get to Yucay? Do I need to pre-arrange a taxi, or can I just get one at the airport when I arrive?

Thanks in advance for any advice.

want to stay in the Plaza de Armes what hotels are right in th Plaze

Hi all, I'm travelling to Peru this time next year, we are going by bus, from Cusco to La Paz via Puno. everyone suggests that it is cheaper to purchase tickets as you go, but a requirement of a Peru Visa is that you have a ticket to prove you are leaving the country. I am wondering how to reconcile the two? Help on this subject would be really appreciated!

Hi all, I'm looking to go to Cusco this time next year (January 2014). Bus is how we are getting around. I have been told that for bus travel you book as you go (because it is cheaper), but on a Peru visa you need to have a ticket to prove you are leaving the country, how then do you reconcile the two? we are flying into Cusco and taking a bus to La Paz via Puno.

I will be staying in Cusco during the above dates. I would enjoy meeting up with fellow travelers for interesting conversation over tea, coffee, and/or food

Hi everyone, I'll have only 2 days staying in Cusco in October. I save 1 full day for Machu Picchu. For the last day, I intend to visit either Inca Sacred Valley or historic places in Cusco. What should I choose: The Valley or Cusco? Is it possible spending half day for Ollanteytambo and then going back for visiting Cusco in the afternoon? Looking forward to hearing your advices.

It is a good idea to book with the tour expeditions or guides in the airport. Afterall this must be the most official tours in Cusco. I am not looking for a bargin but a fair price that will offer exactly what they are offering.

My husband and I are planning a hiking trip to Peru mid-October for amonth. We are used to hiking on our own (no guides or tours). We also prefer "day-hikes". Any advice or suggestions. We thought of staying in Cusco for most of the time, and using it as a base for hikes. Is this a good location? I would appreciate all suggestions.

People have told me it is not a good idea to stay in the town because it is too noisey at night. Any thoughts or recommendations? Also we are planning to take the train to MP should we buy tickets in Cusco or before we depart from the US? Which train would be the best to book?

Is there a train from Lima to Cuzco?

Hello, We are two french travelling to the Machu Picchu. We booked on the 9th of July so we have to leave Cuzco on the 8th. If anyone is interested to share a combi which would take us to Agua caliente faster (max 8 pers), tell me. Then, we planed to go to the lake Titicaca on the bolivian side, a friend told us to take a combi to go by the north part of the lake from Juliaca (1h before puno). It's a more typical trip, we'll be in a small community. Well our friends did both trips and said this one is amazing. But this tour is not offered by many agencies so we have to get their by ourselves. So we can take a taxi and travel together in this area, if anyone is interested, contact me :) Emilie :)

Hi everyone, I am confused. So far, this is what I have figured out: Friday: Fly out of Lima early am. Arrive in Cuzco and catch train to Aguas C. ---> spend friday night in Aguas Calientes (hotel suggestions?) Saturday: Visit MP as early as possible ---> Leave MP and catch train in Aguas Calientes to go to? (which city?) Sunday: Visit Pisac Ruins and Market ---> Other recommendations for Sunday? Monday: Fly back to Lima and catch late late flight back to U.S. ---> Is there anything I will have time to do/see Monday before leaving for Lima?

Anyone else going to Cusco this summer...? Already ordered trips to Machu Picchu, Incas sacred valley and a two days trip to Titicaca lake. It had been fun talking to someone on this forum before I go from july 4'th to july 12'th..

back to cusco after Ollantaytambo (take my minivan back to cusco city center), then get on inka express or any other bus service? or can I take a train from Ollantaytambo to puno? or maybe something else I can do from machu pichhu directly to puno? really appreciate the help!!

I just wondering if I will still like it after machu picchu, so wonder maybe it is best that I do beforehand? and should i go with a day tour to pisac,Chinchero and Ollantaytambo or on my own, I heard12 for the day tour but that can not be including the entrance fee correct? should I get the Boleto Turístico which is23 at cusco's?

local bus? or taxi, since from Av Grau 525 there are minivan to take me to Ollantaytambo, then from there I can get on the train to Machu Pichu

I will take the train ride from cusco to town under the ruin of machu piccu, but others also mentioned about Ollantaytambo, but what is the best way to get there and do I need to get bus ticket beforehand ?

so what are my options? I will be flying directly from dfw to lima to cusco, since lan is a partner of American airline. but I read everywhere it is best to purchase the train ticket to machu piccu few days before. we will be coming toward later sept. I understand it would not be as crowded?

Hi! We plan a trip from Cuzco to Machu Picchu. We are seniors so we look for the fastest way to get there. Are there any flights / fast trains to get there? Can you recommend any place to stay overnight close/in Machu Picchu? Thank you so much for your comments! Basia

I have booked my first hotel in Urubamba The Sacred Valley but will need to get a Taxi from Cusco Airport. Can anyone tell me how much this should cost and also, is it safe to get a taxi from the airport?

I'll be 4 days in a tour on cuzco and machu pichu. Any idea how much do I have to take with me? I have my ticket fly from lima-cuzco-lima. Sure I take a tourist agency services better? Or do it by my self?

I have bought train tickets from Ollantaytambo to Aguas Caliente online via perurail. Do I need to exchange the prinit out/vourcher for a train ticket upon my arrival at the train station? I will arrive Aguas Caliente at about 22:00 and am prepared to get the first bus to enter Manchu Picchu early next morning. I do not yet have the MP ticket. I understand that I can buy it in AC at about 05:15 when the office opens. Will there be a long queue? I also see from other reviews that I better buy the bus ticket (from AC to MP) and the MP ticket in advance. Is there enough time for me to buy the bus ticket and MP ticket in the early morning and get the FIRST bus? Any advice and information is much appreciated.

Hi folks, We'll be travelling to Lima in mid April and then likely up to Aguas Calientes (via Cusco of course) a couple days later for acclimatization and the obligatory Machu Picchu visit, and then back to Cusco to arrange a trek, see the Cusco sights, soak up the atmosphere, drink pisco, etc. We prefer to keep things flexible and not book hotels ahead of time (except that first night in Lima as we get in a bit late). My question, for those with first hand knowledge, is: - With all the internal travel during Holy Week should we expect any trouble in getting a hotel on arrival in Cusco during Holy Week? - We'll be in Aguas before Holy Week officially starts if things go well. Could we expect any trouble hooking up accomodations then? By way of information, we are not picky over accomodations and not on a super tight budget. Clean, safe and reasonably quiet are all we'd require. And not too pricey ($60 or less would be ideal). Thanks..much appreciate any thoughts from folks who have been there.

We will go back to Cusco from Pisac in noon on a day in May. We will depart by flight from Cusco at about 5:00 p.m. on the same day. Before we go to the airport, I wonder if there is any place in Cusco we can deposit our luggage so that we can wander around in Cusco for a couple hours before we fly back. Furthermore, is there any place of interest in downtown Cusco we should visit? Any advice and recommendation is much appreciated.

I am going to Manchu Picchu in May. I learnt from other members review that there was a backpacker train leaving Ollantaytambo for Manchu Picchu at about 05:10. However, I cannot find such train on perurail website. Is the backpacker train no longer available? or the train departing at 05:10 is no longer available? Any VT members with updated information will be much appreciated.