Solo trip to Peru

[jamaicawi]

I'm *thinking* of doing a solo trip .... to Peru. I have done lots of travelling but always with my husband as my travel partner. I have always wanted to visit Peru and truthfully, I have no clue as to best areas in Peru to visit, when is the better time to go and what to do once as I get there. I do know that I would like to visit Macchu Picchu (smile). On all my trips, guest houses has been the preference (will need recommendations); and I am not one to spend my time hanging around the guest house ...just a place to sleep, and breakfast, if provided. I rather be mobile...having a rental vehicle and I am used to getting around on my own, as long as I have a good map. Being lost is always part of the adventure...

Will need recommendations... for place to stay, sights to see, where to go, what to do, vehicle rentals, etc. ALL information possible. Thank you and appreciated.

I'm thinking of Peru in July and maybe re-thinking this time period, since it's summer in the US and I can't deal with the overcrowded places. (LOL!) Too many tourists freak me out. Last but not least, if there are recommendation for other South American countries, I am open to additional options. Last, last but definitely not least, I'm the type of traveller who likes to hit bordering countries in one trip. So I'm not exclusive to Peru but that's the planned destination... for now. My trip period is planned for 3 weeks.

[jamaicawi]

I'll take it that either this board is not a good source for travel info, or no one has been to Peru. I will be leaving for Peru on 6/20, as all my trips to a new country, I shall wing it.

[BCN Dave]

Hope I'm here in time! My wife is Peruvian, so I've been various times. Bear in mind that July is Winter in Peru, so Macchu Picchu although less crowded, may be terrible weather. (side note, I went in December and it was not crowded - as it's a national park, they graduate the entrances, so as to keep it as it is - it's never a free-for-all).
DON'T spend too much time in Lima (I've been 4 times, and it's the worst city in Peru for pollution, size, getting around). Use Lima as your base to get around - nothing else

You will find the Peruvians really accomodating, it's almost as if they are 100 years behind everyone else with regards customer satisfaction and real on-hands experience. Have no fear of being the outsoder.

I can well reccomend Trujillo (Chan Chan and the huaca de la luna and el sol), the north is lovely - Piura, the coast with Ecuador, etc. and of course Arequipa, and lke Titikaka. Not to metion Huarras, and the mountainous regions (Puno, also is jungle).

Peru has the unique advantage of having every climate - coast, green hills, mountains (Cusco) and rainforests on the way back down. It truly is an amazing country. If you get this before you go, have a great time. If I'm too late, then I hope you had a taste and will be back soon!
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[amonil]

Hello,
Peru is very beautiful country to travel. It is bordered on the north by Ecuador and Colombia, on the east by Brazil, on the southeast by Bolivia, on the south by Chile, and on the west by the Pacific Ocean. The main spoken language is Spanish, although a significant number of Peruvians speak Quechua or other native languages.
you'll visit the most popular places to see in Peru. See the capital city Lima, known for its fascinating architecture and culture. Among must see places in Lima include the 18th century Lima Cathedral, Plaza de Aramas, the Museo de la Nacion (National Museum), Museum of Anthropology and Archaeology. Other popular places to see in Peru include Cusco and Machu Picchu, known for its proximity to amazing Inca Ruins. In Machu Picchu, you'll see the Sacred Valley of the Inca Empire perhaps the most amazing archeological site in the world.

If you love adventures, then there are many interesting places to see in Peru. Fly over the amazing Nazca Lines, navigate the Lake Titicaca, or explore the varied wildlife and birds in the Manu National Park. Peru also has some of the stunning volcanoes in the world, including El Misti (5,822 m) and Nevado Chachani (6,057 m) - the highest volcanoes in Peru near the city of Arequipa. Other places that you would love to see in Peru include Chan Chan, Chavín de Huántar, Colca Canyon and Pacaya Samiria National Reserve to name a few. Travour has selected for you the most popular places to see in Peru. To know more about them, just click on their individual links on this page.

[BCN Dave]

Been a while, Jamaicawi, did you end up going?!

Let us know!
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[emiliosc22]

Hi, I was touring peru & does not matter if it's winter or summer, Perú is the most beautifull place in south america
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[xhalmers_860]

I think you should go to the Nazca Lines - little bit out of the way but quite incredible. You can get a little plane up to fly you over them for even a student budget.

PS If millions of tourists freak you out you might want to reconsider MP
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[cuzcoresident]

I lead tours in Peru and this is the most popular three week itinerary. All southern Peru. Northern Peru is amazing, but the major sites such as Nazca, Titicaca and Machu Picchu are all in the south. And the Amazon is easily accessible via Puerto Maldonado from Cuzco.



1

Arrive Lima

2-3

Amazon lodge

4-5

Cuzco

6

Sacred Valley

7-10

Inca Trail/Machu Picchu

11

Cuzco

12

Trip to Puno

13-14

Lake Titicaca

15

Travel to Arequipa

16-17

Colca Canyon

18

Flight to Lima

19

Down coast to Nazca

20

Nazca/Return to Lima

21

Departure Day

If you want to visit a neighboring country, Bolivia is by far the easiest, and cheapest. La Paz is very easy to get to from Titicaca, just a few hours, and a very interesting and visually stunning city. Be advised that Americans still need to pay $135 for a visa, but this regulation may be eliminated by the time you get there. Also check for strikes, protests, etc.

Hope this is helpful.

[BCN Dave]

Great tip for an itinerary, cuzcoresident, we could trun this thread into an info thread for Peru as the OP doesn't seem to be around anymore!

I was over again in November-December last year and had a great time (as usual) and put on a few kilos too!! I also found some great "white" cocoa beans in Piura, which are currently being exported to the finest chocolatiers in Europe!! Great stuff!
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[cuzcoresident]

White cocoa beans, huh? Is that what they make white chocolate from? What is an OP, btw? Is an info thread just a regular new thread? Thanks.

[BCN Dave]

sorry man, OP is original poster (jamaicawi).

No, as far as I can gather, white chocolate is actually made from the butter from cocoa beans, so purists will tell you that it's not really "chocolate". Piura has a variation which is perfectly natural, but only grows in Piura, and is a 100% cocoa bean but white in colour (and allegedly a little more bitter, but I'm no whizz on cocoa, so don't ask me). A mate of mine who's really into chocolate reminded me as I picked up the paper one morning and there happened to be an article about it. I searched hight and low (they get big bucks exporting it man) and got some for him. We also had it over christmas.

I'll try and sort out a pic next couple of days, so you can see.

Cheers.
Dave
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