Hi all,
due to arrive in Lima end of March and start Spanish Lessons start of April. Lessons will only be two hours, 5 morning a week, so will be looking for lots to keep me busy, for about 2 months.
Any suggestions for weekends away? would be able to leave friday midday and return sunday evening.
What to do during the week? Volunteering or teaching english opportunities?
End of May am off to Machu Picchu with 3 others, one of whom has had an ankle operation so probably cant do the entire inca trail. Is it worth doing the one night version of the hike, and does this require being part of a tour? or is it better just catch the train all the way to aguas, do the hour hike/bus ride, and get a guide only for the site?
Thanks :)

Machu Picchu - I don't think you can get in unless part of a group, and there is a limit on numbers. I did the overnight in 2002. It's a bit of a walk but no real climbing. In fact the local guides have a race where they do it in trainers, in a couple of hours!

The one-day included Wiñay-Wayna which is what I particularly wanted to see.

Lima can get pretty foggy. A good place to visit is Trujillo, up the coast north. Some amazing Chimu etc. buildings beneath the desert. There's an English guy there (or maybe Irish) named Michael, who runs a hostel and also runs guided tours of places of interest. Well worth doing.

South down the coast is Pisco (of Pisco Sour fame).

Not far from there is Nazca and its lines. Flights from about $35 I seem to recall.

I have photos at
http://www.flickr.com/photos/john37perry/sets/72157594234834284/

There are plenty of opportunities to teach English but to be honest sometimes is a bigger pain than it is worth as you have to get some seniority before you get to the "good" part. But if you are looking just for something to pass the time, then you can just walk into any institute (most of them just ask for your visitor card you get at the airport) and start applying for places, same with volunteering work, you can start walking into NGO's and ask if they need help, most of the time they do...
Around Lima for the weekend? Like said above Trujillo is 9 hours north, Tingo Maria is 12 hours east, and Arequipa is 13 hours south, that gives you a pretty good range. Also, this is the link for festivities in different parts of the country year round:
http://www.peru.info/s_ftocultura.asp?ids=1496&;ic=1&pdr=754&jrq=5.2
Enjoy Perú and let me welcome you already...
Luis



PS. Ah! I'll give you a starter that won't be taught in school: chela = beer; ñoba = bathroom; enjoy Perú!!

thanks for the replies, and for the great websites :)
I was under the impression you could do Machu Picchu without a tour, that its the actual Inca Trail that is limited on numbers and requires a pass? That said it makes sense that the short option requires a tour as it does go on the trail. Can you remember what sort of price you paid for the shorter version? Also i plead ignorance on knowing much about Winay-Wayna I'm afraid.
Pisco seems a reasonable distance away for a weekend trip, but the others look like i'd really have to fly at least one way in order to fit them in, or take an extra day off lessons.
I have got about 11 months on my ticket before i have to fly out of south america though, so hopefully i can get everything fit in after i get some spanish under my belt :)

You can spend one of the weekends in ICA , Huacancina world largest sand dunes can sand board & take a boat ride in the lake also a visit to Nacsa as already told by other vters and take a fly out to see the Nasca lines and figures from the sky. These places are quite reachable from Lima and not that far away.
Its better that you book Muchu Pichu tour as this includes return Train ride to agua Caliente and the bus trip both ways to the top. Also a guide will take you round the site so i believe that is pretty convenient

Peru is a big country. I really recommend you try to see Trujillo. Also near Pisco is the ?famous Candelabro, the Paracas National reserve, and pelicans in flight. I can't remember what I paid for the Machu Picchu trip, less than $100 I think, and that included food, transport, hotel, entrance fees and guide. I booked in the main square in Cusco. Not far from the pub. You could also check out South American Explorers club there they have plenty of info.

Another interesting place is Chachapoyas and Kuelap, but that's probably too far from Lima to make a weekend feasible.