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Restaurant Suggestions - Sacred Valley


fsdj1097
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Welcome home, Sam. Your trip sounds amazing. I tell people that we did not go on a vacation but went on an adventure :).

 

How did you make out with the altitude?

 

We began our Diamox regimen in Lima the day before our flight to Cusco. We continued the Diamox for the next 48 hours. DW had some slight tingling sensation around her mouth and in her fingers the last day in Puno, but other than that, we experienced no altitude-related issues.

 

We did see some others who were administered oxygen here and there.

 

Ours was definitely an adventure. We could have used a couple of days rest in between the travel days. That would have been the only thing that I would have changed. Perhaps a day in Cusco before and after the visit to Machu Picchu would be my recommendation.

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Hello Everyone,

 

We flew back to the US on an overnight flight from Lima Friday night.

 

All I can say is WOW! This trip far exceeded our wildest expectations and will be a trip that we will never forget.

 

We booked our trip thru Escaped to Latin America and they did not let us down. Condor Travel escorted us at each pickup and delivery point, and conducted the private tours in Lima, The Sacred Valley, and Machu Picchu. We had a shared tour on a fast boat at Lake Titicaca.

 

The only aspect of the trip that might be of concern to others is that this was not a 'kick back and relax' vacation. We were on the go most of the time, but that was our goal....to see as much of Peru as we could squeeze into 8 days.

 

Our trip included two domestic flights (Lima to Cusco, and Juliaca to Lima), two 4+ hour train rides to and from Machu Picchu (one on the Hiram Bingham outbound, and on Vista Dome inbound), a 10 hour bus trip from Cusco to Puno that included 5 stops for sightseeing and lunch, and a 6 hour boat ride on Lake Titicaca.

 

The first two days were spent in Lima, with one day on our own and the other day included a private Lima city tour. After a flight to Cusco, we were transferred to the Sacred Valley where we stayed in the town of Urubamba. The first afternoon was on our own, and the second day included a private Sacred Valley tour. The tour started at the town of Pisac, where we visited an Inca market. After a stop at Calca to sample some Cuy, we stopped at a very nice restaurant Alhambria Haciendia for lunch. The afternoon was spent at the ruins at Ollantaytambo.

 

The next morning we had an early pickup to transfer back to the train station at Poroy for the Hiram Bingham train to Aguas Calientes. What a delight to be spoiled rotten in such luxury. Our Condor Travel representative was waiting at the station in Aguas to take our luggage to our hotel, and put us on the bus up to Machu Picchu. We had a private 4 hour tour of Machu Picchu that afternoon with an excellent guide 'Marco'.

 

The next morning we re-visited Machu Picchu for the daunting task of climbing Wayna Picchu mountain. What a challenge it was, too. With great pride, I can say that DW and I successfully made the climb in 1 hour 50 minutes. Our 19 YO grandson was able to complete the ascent portion of thTe climb in 30 minutes! What an accomplishment. We had a 3:20 Vista Dome train to catch back in Aguas, so it was back on the bus for another 4 hour train ride back to Cusco.

 

Next morning we were up and at 'em early for a pickup and delivery to the bus station in Cusco for the ride to Puno. We had 5 stops along the way at various ruins and places of interest. By the time we made Puno at 5 pm, it was an early dinner and bed.

 

Our pickup the next morning was to deliver us to the dock for the fast boat trip to Lake Titicaca. Our first stop was at one of the floating Uros Islands where we met the 6 families that reside there. The guide introduced us to the president of the island who told us of their lifestyle on the island. The president invited us to ride on their 'Mercedes Benz', which was a reed boat capable of carrying well over a dozen people at once. From the floating island, our next stop was on the island of Tequile where we had the pleasure of an outstanding lunch of quinoa soup, grilled trout, rice, and other vegetables. It was delicious.

 

Unfortunately, as all things do, our Peruvian vacation had to end. The next morning we were picked up and after a short stop at the Sullistani ruins, et was off to the Juliaca airport for out flight back to Lima, and then a redeye flight back to the US and reality!

 

I would be happy to answer any questions that you may have.

 

What a wonderful review, brought back memories of my 2 weeks in Peru, all the city names and going to Lake Titicaca...seems like all the guides pretty much do the same route. Glad you had a great time.....

 

BTW 6 years ago we rode in the "special reed boat too" ...I loved our boat trip to the floating islands on Lake Titicaca...I think the islands was one of the biggest tourist traps I've ever been too, but what fun it was.

My favorite part of our trip was the island of Tequille...the indigenous people r what made our trip so special.

Edited by land lover
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What a wonderful review, brought back memories of my 2 weeks in Peru, all the city names and going to Lake Titicaca...seems like all the guides pretty much do the same route. Glad you had a great time.....

 

BTW 6 years ago we rode in the "special reed boat too" ...I loved our boat trip to the floating islands on Lake Titicaca...I think the islands was one of the biggest tourist traps I've ever been too, but what fun it was.

My favorite part of our trip was the island of Tequille...the indigenous people r what made our trip so special.

 

While we've only been back for a couple of weeks now, we're already talking about returning to Peru. With only 8 days of actual touring, there's so much more to see. We want to fly over the Nazca Lines, visit the Galapagos Islands, and see the Rainbow Mountains. And we want to spend more time in Cusco.

 

One thing that I want to stress on these boards is how safe we actually felt while in Peru. We were prepared with RFID purses and money belts, but I never felt like we were in danger of being mugged, or even felt like we were being targeted by pickpockets. I think it was mostly because we were accompanied by the excellent tour guides of Condor Travel almost everywhere we went. We did quite a bit of walking in the Miraflores section of Lima, which, from what we understand, is very safe.

 

And, while there was a minimal amount of begging at some of the tourists sites, we never felt uncomfortable. In the markets, there was some pressure to purchase, but nothing that bothered us. I think tourism is now so common, the locals know that there'll be someone else along soon.

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  • 7 months later...

I am planning a trip to Macchu Picchu after our Galapagos cruise and trying to decide if it is worth $700 more for 2 people to ride back to Cusco on the Hiram Bingham rather than taking the Vistadome train. We are planning on taking the Vistadome from Tambo Del Inca to Macchu Picchu.

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  • 1 month later...

We rode the VistaDome back to Cuzco, primarily because it leaves earlier and arrives Cusco earlier than the HB train. We had taken HB from Polroy Station to Aguas Calientes and it was very nice. Justifying the price difference on the return trip was not something that I could do.

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Luggage on Peru Rail

I was on the train a few weeks ago. No problem taking airline carry-on type bags. In fact, wife and I each had a carry-on bag plus a small backpack I kept with me at our seats. Most passengers had airline carry-on type bags.

 

If you are staying at the Belmond Sanctuary Hotel - staff collects your bags as your exit the train in Aquas Calientes. Your bags arrive in your room a few hours later.

 

Restaurants - Cuzco

Cicciolina

Incanto

 

Restaurants - Ollantaytambo

Inka House

 

Restaurants - MP

Belmond Sanctuary Hotel

 

Agree with other - get your doctor to prescribe Diamox. Cipro is another good idea - just in case.

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