sriki
Level 2 Member
WORK IN PROGRESS
We just came back from our Peru & Bolivia trip and wanted to detail my trip details. I have been making posts on my own blog (for family) that I was going to mostly copy paste here (without more personal stuff). Half way through the trip, I got sick and did not keep up with that. So, I will post this report in parts in the next few days. So, bear with me for a while I do that. But, ask any questions you have as PM for now & I will answer them.
Part-1: Peru
Flights:
During the second half of last year, AA opened up availability to South America and we decided that's where we will go next.
IAD-LIM-CUZ (LATAM using AA miles)
We had a long layover in Lima and Priority Pass(PP)/Lounge Club(LC) was very helpful. The lounge in the domestic terminal is extremely small with limited space. But, there is a hot shower (yes, only one and only one at a time
) and they serve free Pisco Sours (look it up if you don't know what it is). The approach to CUZ airport can be very interesting and worthy of a window seat.
We used our SPG points to stay 5 days(5th night free) at Tambo Del Inka in Urubamba. Urubamba is one of the places some people use as a base for the Machu Picchu/Sacred Valley tour. Some use Cuzco too. The Tambo is an hour long taxi ride from the Cuzco airport and we did take a taxi from there. We did not get any upgrade there but still had a great experience. The staff are excited and even happy thet you are there. It was very nice to be treated like that. I would absolutely recommend this place.
<Photos>
Tambo has its own private train station that you can use to get to the base of Machu Picchu (known as Machu Picchu Pueblo/Aguas Caliente). We did not use this on our way up there (went to Ollyatambo which is a 30 min drive) but did come back here directly on the return.
Places we saw in the sacred Valley:
1. Maras: We did a ATV tour to the salt mines. It was fun for the most part with some hairy situations when the bulls in some villages decided to charge at me in the narrow streets. Apparently, they don't like the sound. Same goes for dogs. There are stray dogs all over but they don't bother you almost all the time.
2. Mooray: we spent a lot more than expected at Maras and ended up at Mooray after it was closed. But, you can still walk up to it and be there.
3. Pisac: The ruins are cool and you may even get to sit near/in them and relax (YMMV). Try to go to Pisac Sunday market. It's decent sized. There is a small animal sanctuary near Pisac that's good too. Right near it is another sanctuary that just has llamas. I almost skipped it and am glad I did not.
4. Machu Picchu: We climbed the MP mountain. In hindsight, I should not have done it based on how badly my body reacted. But, the views are amazing from the top.
MORE TO COME
We just came back from our Peru & Bolivia trip and wanted to detail my trip details. I have been making posts on my own blog (for family) that I was going to mostly copy paste here (without more personal stuff). Half way through the trip, I got sick and did not keep up with that. So, I will post this report in parts in the next few days. So, bear with me for a while I do that. But, ask any questions you have as PM for now & I will answer them.
Part-1: Peru
Flights:
During the second half of last year, AA opened up availability to South America and we decided that's where we will go next.
IAD-LIM-CUZ (LATAM using AA miles)
We had a long layover in Lima and Priority Pass(PP)/Lounge Club(LC) was very helpful. The lounge in the domestic terminal is extremely small with limited space. But, there is a hot shower (yes, only one and only one at a time
We used our SPG points to stay 5 days(5th night free) at Tambo Del Inka in Urubamba. Urubamba is one of the places some people use as a base for the Machu Picchu/Sacred Valley tour. Some use Cuzco too. The Tambo is an hour long taxi ride from the Cuzco airport and we did take a taxi from there. We did not get any upgrade there but still had a great experience. The staff are excited and even happy thet you are there. It was very nice to be treated like that. I would absolutely recommend this place.
<Photos>
Tambo has its own private train station that you can use to get to the base of Machu Picchu (known as Machu Picchu Pueblo/Aguas Caliente). We did not use this on our way up there (went to Ollyatambo which is a 30 min drive) but did come back here directly on the return.
Places we saw in the sacred Valley:
1. Maras: We did a ATV tour to the salt mines. It was fun for the most part with some hairy situations when the bulls in some villages decided to charge at me in the narrow streets. Apparently, they don't like the sound. Same goes for dogs. There are stray dogs all over but they don't bother you almost all the time.
2. Mooray: we spent a lot more than expected at Maras and ended up at Mooray after it was closed. But, you can still walk up to it and be there.
3. Pisac: The ruins are cool and you may even get to sit near/in them and relax (YMMV). Try to go to Pisac Sunday market. It's decent sized. There is a small animal sanctuary near Pisac that's good too. Right near it is another sanctuary that just has llamas. I almost skipped it and am glad I did not.
4. Machu Picchu: We climbed the MP mountain. In hindsight, I should not have done it based on how badly my body reacted. But, the views are amazing from the top.
MORE TO COME
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