South America group posting on GLOBOsapiens

Backpacking in Peru

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songawaydin Joined: Sep 08 Points: 8 Posts: 2 Posted: 2008-09-10 22:53:00    Me and some friends are planning a backpacking trip Peru, we are all fairly experienced backpackers but have never been to south America. Our plan is to fly into Lima and bus it to Cusco? (unless y'all have a better suggestion) to hit the trails. We just need some suggestions of where to go. A five day moderate hiking trip (we have a newbe).We are trying to avoid other people and having to hire a guide. So no inca trail. Give us some suggestions of awesome trips youve taken or peaks you think we have to summit!! THANKS Reply    Reply with quote    Contact songawaydin   krisek Premium account Joined: Jan 08 Points: 84174 Posts: 203 Posted: 2008-09-11 01:33:00    Hi, Peru is really easy to travel. There are many bus companies, and some of the long range buses are really comfortable - with seats converting to beds, full service with simple meals and drinks, stewards, etc. Getting a bus from Lima to Cuzco is relatively easy. It is a long journey but it is better for the altitude difference. There are a few treks you can do around Cuzco and there are plenty of travel agents in the town, which you should consult for safety. From my experience, Pisac is the best to avoid tourists. When I went with my friends - we took a guide - we were the only ones there, and the ruins were easily rivaling Machu Picchu. The Machu Picchu area and around Aguas Calientes has plenty, plenty of nice trails, but some of those might be a bit challenging for newbies. It used to be possible to back track from the ruins along the Inca Trail all the way to the last camp. It takes few hours - slow pace. From Cuzco to Aguas Calientes there are a few trains a day, most leaving before sunrise. Ollantaytambo (about 55km from Cuzco) is more touristy (not like Cuzco, Machu Picchu, or Inca Trail) but it is also interesting. Fantastic trails are also in the Huascaran National Park in the Cordillera Blanca and around. Regular buses run from Lima to Huaraz, at the foot of the Andes. Although one can get very high in the mountains, over 4,000m, most of the treks are relatively easy. They are tiring and some of them might be slippery when wet, but are doable for newbies. Many trekking offices in Huaraz can help with guides, advise on difficulty, etc. It is real business there. Some other trekking can be done in the area of the Colca Canyon. It can be organised through travel agents in Arequipa. Treks are of varying difficulty but the guides in the offices know enough to advise on levels of fitness required to do them. Most, however are easy enough for all - but some require overnight stay on the bottom of the canyons and the final climb back on top - often ending at the Cruz del Condor - is a bit stretching. Best regards, Krys --- Open your eyes. Free your mind. Touch lives. Sink into the different. Travel and belong. Profile photo: Palma de Mallorca. Reply    Reply with quote    Contact krisek   songawaydin Joined: Sep 08 Points: 8 Posts: 2 Posted: 2008-09-11 16:58:00    we want to hike from point a to point b and sleep on the trails in tents... is that do able? Reply    Reply with quote    Contact songawaydin   krisek Premium account Joined: Jan 08 Points: 84174 Posts: 203 Posted: 2008-09-12 02:01:00    That is definitely doable. You cab do a few days trekking in the Colca Canyon, and there are plenty of opportunities for trekking in the Cordillera Blanca. I am not sure of several days trekking options near Cuzco, but the travel agents in town will be able to advise you. Peru is not entirely safe and the locals are not always very welcoming. The agents will therefore have the up to date info where to be careful and where not to go. Peru is well organised and in places like Arequipa or Huaraz there are many tourism offices, which are very knowledgeable and helpful. There is nothing to worry about it re trips. When I went to Peru, I did not plan to go to Colca, but I met some travellers, who raved about it, so when I was in Arequipa and asked a couple of travel offices and found a guide for the very next day. The same in Huaraz. In Huaraz, there were so many and so well experienced that they really impressed me. On my trek around Lago 69, I had a guide who climbed Chacraraju (the second most difficult mountain in the world after K2) over 11 times! And he was available for the very next day, as well. --- Open your eyes. Free your mind. Touch lives. Sink into the different. Travel and belong. Profile photo: Palma de Mallorca. Reply    Reply with quote    Contact krisek   williamgeo Joined: Sep 08 Points: 4 Posts: 1 Posted: 2008-09-12 06:11:00    My boyfriend and i stayed at Blue House for two nights. We stayed in a double room and as soon as we got there we were looking forward to leaving. The bad: The room and the bathroom were very damp in need of a good clean. you could smell the damp as soon as you walked into the room, which.. ----------------------- williamgeorge [ This Message was edited by: christianj. on 2008-09-12 18:55 ] Reply    Reply with quote    Contact williamgeo   robynallen Joined: May 08 Points: 403 Posts: 4 Posted: 2008-09-14 06:07:00    When I went to do the Inca trail we flew from Lima to Cusco which saved us a lot of time and was not too expensive.It gave us more time for exploring and sorting out what we were going to do !We spent a couple of days trekking the small hills in Cusco to get used to the thinner air and that was a good gentle way to start off. We then bused down to Puno and Lake Titicaca and then on through to Bolivia. The buses there are pretty good and seem to run on time. We had a really nice rested sleep on a luxury bus from Igazu Falls to Floranopolis in Brasil and the opposite on a budget bus up to Rio! If you can afford it pay a little extra and relax! --- When travelling is in your blood there is always the need to dream of the next place to discover. Dreams lead to goals and goals lead to discovery. Life is all about discovery, so live life to the full and discover your dreams! Reply    Reply with quote    Contact robynallen   pipi Joined: Jan 09 Points: 4 Posts: 1 Posted: 2009-01-19 22:19:00    If you need to stay in Lima there is a really great hostel to stay. It is called Colibri Youth Hostel www.colibriyouthhostel.com We have been to so many hostels and it is a little difficult to find a clean and nice one. This one is in the center of Miraflores and you can walk to everywhere. Peru was an extraordinary experience for us :-) Loads of surprises Reply    Reply with quote    Contact pipi   shubh Joined: Mar 09 Points: 166 Posts: 36 Posted: 2009-08-13 04:39:00    You do not need to be a history buff to enjoy Peru. Inside the cities, there is usually no problem getting around on city buses or taxis. When going by train, it's best to buy the ticket in advance. Beside the famous Inca trail to Machu Picchu, you can do a lot of more hikes all along the Sierra, preferably in the dry season. It is also possible to tour the interior of the country by car. --- luxury resorts http://travel.justlu-xe.com/ Reply    Reply with quote    Contact shubh