Thank you for clicking on the Peru Travel Deals website. 

Admittedly, the site is currently more about Travel in Peru rather than specifically Peru Travel Deals – although we do have some useful Travel Deals links and tips and we are currently working on putting together a wider list of recommendations for the best travel deals to Peru, including hotel deals, airfare deals and Inca Trail travel deals.  

In the meantime, while we are developing this blog site, Peru travel deals have put together a mix of travel writings (the majority from our own personal experience) providing travel information and tips about getting the most of your trip to Peru.  We have also included some recommendations or suggestions for books, equipment, tour companies etc.  

Our travel in Peru has taken us south from the Ecuador border to Trujillo, Huaraz, Lima, Cusco, the Sacred Valley (including a Machu Picchu tour), Arequipa (and the Colca Canyon), Puno (and Lake Titicaca) and finally into Bolivia.

Hopefully our travel writings capture the spirit of the Peru and inspire you to consider travelling to this great country.

If you would like to know anything in particular, please let us know and we will get back to you personally, and maybe even get a blog post written on the subject.

Technorati Tags: Arequipa, Colca Canyon, Cusco, Huaraz, Lima, Machu Picchu Tour, Peru, Peru Travel Deals, Puno, the Sacred Valley, Trujillo

The city of Cusco sits in a beautiful setting in the Peruvian Andes, at an altitude of 3400m asl, a height that left many fellow passengers breathless as they stepped of the plane.  As we were waiting for our bags we were serenaded by a bunch of poncho clad pan pipers, hands fully extended while they played.  Touts quickly descended on us like a swarm of bees.  Even after saying “no”, we still managed to find ourselves sitting next to a tout in our taxi who pointed out sights of interest as we headed towards the centre of town.  We engaged ourselves in a long and boring conversation about the weather, not giving him a chance to get a word in edgeways.  Desperate for an opportunity to give us his sales pitch, he hovered around as we were booking into our hotel.  Eventually collaring us, he tried to flog us a tour on the Inca trail to Machu Picchu, a bus trip through the Sacred Valley and a visit to the jungle.  We were trying to enjoy our first cup of coca tea (a pile of leaves in a cup filled with boiling water – it smelt rank but did not taste too bad), and the last thing we wanted to do was think about what trips we wanted to go on.  Eventually our tout got bored, storming off in a huff and back to the airport to await the next flight arrival.

We arrived in Cusco at the worst possible time of year (July), when the streets, hotels and museums were full of Americans and Europeans, mostly on large guided tours. 

A British pub – The Cross Keys – sold European and American beers, but we didn’t think the Guinness would have travelled well and kept to the local beer, Cusquenan, instead.   Mounted on the walls were photos from the UK, Premiership football scarves and a large wide screen TV showing sport highlights.  They even had pool tables and served roast dinners.  We could see why it was so popular.

It is impossible to walk 10 metres through the streets of Cusco without being hassled by someone.  It is a real shame as it ruins the ambiance of the place.  We were constantly harassed by street vendors to buy postcards, chocolates or fags, have a shoeshine, or take a taxi ride – the touts would not take “no” or something harsher for an answer.  We wanted to shout at them all, but most of them were just kids who were trying to earn a meagre living.  The most frustrating ones were those would hang around while we ate, loitering at the end of the table, with their hands limply extended and a pathetic look upon their faces.

As time went on, our boots got dustier and dustier, and we were attracting the attention of more and more shoe shiners.  Young boys seemed to appear from every side street, shouting a very bored, “Shoeshine” as they spotted even the smallest speck of dirt on your shoes.  We would reply, “no gracias” and they would reply, “only one sol, shoeshine” again.  This dialogue would go on a few more times, round and round in circles, until they got bored and left.  They appeared to work in teams and as soon as one walked away another quickly replaced them, “Shoeshine mister?”

 “No gracias”.

“Only one sol, shoeshine?”

 “No gracias”.

“OK, shoeshine?”

Aaargh.  After a while we ended up giving in and at one stage we had one boy cleaning a shoe each, surrounded by a dozen more of them who were desperate to clean his shoes again when the other two had finished polishing.

We experienced a new pest that we had encountered before, but not to such a great extent – restaurant touts.  They were ten times worse than those that you find in Europe hanging outside the doors, thrusting menus into your hands.  Nothing would deter this new strain of super pest, and they would even chase you down the streets.  It was no great surprise that the busiest restaurants, as well as having the best reputation for good food, did not have touts hanging outside the entrance.  One evening, after having looked at the menu in peace, we decided to go into the restaurant and we’re bombarded from all directions by a bunch of touts from other restaurants, who literally tried pulling us away from the door.  They really started getting on our nerves and we felt like punching them.

Cusco was quite stressful and after one afternoon of being there we were desperate to escape.  The only thing that made our visit bearable was that it is such beautiful city.

Article taken from Inca Hoots by Caius Simmons & Vicky Brewis.

Technorati Tags: Cusco, Inca Trail, machu picchu, Peru, Peru Travel Deals

No one seemed too bothered about the early start (4am) on the final day.  We were all too excited and had been unable to sleep properly anyway – our dreams of seeing Machu Picchu were about to be realised.  For almost the first time in four days it was not raining and the sky was full of bright stars.  It was only now that it became apparent how many other people had been actually walking the Inca Trail.  Joined by extra groups who were on a shortened two-day Inca Trail there suddenly appeared to huge numbers of walkers heading towards Machu Picchu.  Looking in front and behind us along the path was a torch lit procession snaking along the side of the mountain through the woods.  We walked in almost complete silence for a couple of hours, getting more and more excited.  The hair on our heads stood on end from the anticipation, and not the fact that it had not been washed for 4 days.  Heading towards Intipunku, the Sun Gate, we became agitated by slower walkers.  As the sky became lighter and lighter, the whole valley below us was revealed to us as the sun started to rise from behind a mountain in the distance and we were anxious we were going to miss our first view as the sun rose up over Machu Picchu.  We virtually ran up the steep steps to the Sun Gate.  As we walked around the corner and looked down on the ancient citadel, our hearts dropped.  The valley in front was filled with a mass of swirling cloud.  We tried not to be disappointed, but after 4 days of walking in the rain to be greeted with fog was not what we had planned on.

Joe, an American in the group, chuckled to himself.  He had not really been prepared for the walk, wearing jeans and trainers that got soaking wet on the first day.  His attempts to carry all his kit did not last and he had resorted to hiring a porter by day two.  He caught a cold and looked like he had not enjoyed the trek.  It was also very disturbing when he spoke, because his slow drawl sounded just like the character played by Billy Bob Thornton in the Oscar winning film, Sling Blade.  At any moment we expected him to say, “Ah, Huh, I Rekkun”.  If he could see the funny side of the situation then we had no reason not to either.  There was nothing else we could do about it, but laugh with him.

   We hung around at the Sun Gate, waiting for the fog to clear, but it was not looking very hopeful.  Our guide told us that he probably only sees Machu Picchu from that spot once or twice a year.  That is something they don’t bother to tell you in the guidebooks or at the tour agencies.  Of course we had to take some photos, it was after all our first view of Machu Picchu.  We thought we might be able to use it for a game, a bit like pin the tail on the donkey.  As we descended into the clouds we glanced behind us to admire the valley and mountains from where we had come from which were now bathed in early morning sunlight.

After 30 minutes walking down through the fog we finally reached the photographers vantage point, known as the ‘Hut of the Caretaker of the Funerary Rock’.  If you have ever received a postcard of Machu Picchu, it is likely that it was taken from this spot.  The fog started to lift and we got our first glimpse of the ruins.  There were the obligatory wisps of clouds clinging to the hillside making it looked really mystical.  An ideal photo opportunity, the only noise was from the clicking of cameras.

Maybe it was the angle that the photos had been taken at, but we imagined the ruins to be a lot bigger.  It is the location of the ruins that make them so important and not it’s size.  The beautiful natural setting of Machu Picchu at 2,430 m above sea level, set amongst tropical mountain forest, is extraordinary.  The site lies in the middle of a saddle shaped ridge between two mountains.  No one knows what the Incas called their city, which has adopted its name from the mountain that rises behind the ruins, Machu Picchu (literally meaning ‘Ancient Peak’).  This mountain is just one of four ancient peaks that surround the ruins, the other three being Huayna Picchu, Putukusi and Pumasillo.  From the centre of the site, each peak points towards a specific direction, North, South, East or West.  Blending in naturally with the landscape, its giant walls, terraces and ramps could easily be mistaken for the rock escarpments that it is built on.

It is easy to understand why these ruins went undiscovered for so long, it’s remote location and its concealment ensuring that the Spanish did not know of its existence.  If they ever did know, it was probably too inaccessible for them to have bothered with.  For whatever reason, it luckily escaped the looting, plundering, burning and destruction that most Inca sites were subjected to during the Spanish Conquest.  As a result, this has become the most significant and famous archaeological site in South America.

It was not until 1911, when a Yale University expedition led by a chap called Hiram Bingham, that the ruins at Machu Picchu were ‘rediscovered’.  Bingham paid a local Quechua man one sol (things haven’t changed much since 1911), who told him that on top of the hill, out of sight was an archaeological ruin.  He assumed it to be the site he was looking for, Vilcabamba (one of the last Inca strongholds), and so he actually discovered Machu Picchu purely by mistake.  The site was totally overgrown with vegetation and although it had been abandoned by the Inca centuries before, a couple of local peasant families were living there.

The search for Vilcabamba continued for many years, until 1964 when Gene Savoy (an American archaeologist) unearthed the site at Espiritu Pampa.  Hiram Bingham had already made it there not long after he had discovered Machu Picchu but had left it alone thinking he had already found the last Incan stronghold.  In his excitement he forgot to log the exact location, and therefore it became ‘lost’ again.  More recently, Peruvian and British explorers have discovered a number of other lost Inca cities all in the same area.  Lying only 40 kilometres from Machu Picchu are one of these sites, Corihuayrachina.    These ruins are even more sophisticated than Machu Picchu, suggesting a well-developed settlement.  Included in the site are ruins of circular homes, storehouses, cemeteries, funeral towers, roadways, waterworks, farming terraces, a dam and a truncated pyramid.

Obviously, there has been a lot of archaeological exploration since the discovery of Machu Picchu and new things are always being excavated.  In total, about 150 skeletal remains have been exhumed; the vast majority of these are females, with only about 20 males and four children.  The large number of female remains was quite curious and has led to various theories, the most popular being that the last inhabitants of Machu Picchu were women, left by the men who had gone off to fight the Spanish, selected to stay to continue important ritual ceremonies.  The theory of it being a glorified brothel is a great suggestion but, unfortunately, very unlikely.

The mystery surrounding Machu Picchu and its precise function is one of is greatest attractions and huge numbers of people believing it was a particularly important centre of worship and ceremonies come searching for a spiritual experience.  Maybe it was the two dogs copulating in the main grassy plaza that distracted us, but it did not really feel that it was a particularly sacred place.  Neither of us felt compelled to sit down and meditate, or take off our clothes and run around naked for that matter.

The majority of the site is split between agricultural terracing and buildings to accommodate about 500 people.  Even though there are a number of temples and the usual stone alter that is illuminated by the sun during one of the Solstices, most of the buildings are very functional consisting of not just houses, but also workshops, storage areas and baths.  Built at the height of the Inca Empire it was probably one of the most amazing urban centres, not the biggest, but certainly one of the most dramatic.

Machu Picchu is an exceptionally well-preserved archaeological site, with some fantastic granite stonework, locking together like a huge jigsaw puzzle (one stone had 34 interlocking angles cut into it).  Anyone who has ever worked with granite will know that it is not only a very heavy stone, but also very tough and is takes a great deal of skill to cut it accurately.  There are 3 granite quarries within the site, which must have been working full time to provide a constant supply of stone during the city’s construction.

 Our guided tour only took an hour and a half and by 10 am we were left to explore on our own.  Vicky decided to climb up Huayna Picchu (Younger or Lesser Peak).  This is the hill that is the backdrop for most of the photos taken of Machu Picchu and is almost 400 metres higher than the ruins.  We had been warned it was not the easiest hills to climb and those with a fear of heights, including Caius decided to give it a miss.  The route clings to the side of the mountain and there is an almost vertical stairway of about 50 metres carved into the rocky face.  It was not too scary and there was a handrail much of the way to support and pull yourself up.  The final climb to the top was with the aid of a rope, which someone had apparently recently misjudged and had tumbled to their death.  The panoramic view from the top was worth the tiring climb, with Machu Picchu, the Urubamba Canyon and the snow-capped peaks in the distance.  There were too many people hanging around at the top, determined to try and find the highest and most precarious rock to conquer.  The walk back down was a little more disconcerting and from the top of some mini terraces we realised how steep it really was.  The set of tiny steps we had come up now seemed even smaller and steeper and we realised there was nothing at the bottom to stop us from falling right to the bottom if we had slipped.

By the time we had reached the bottom, the ruins were crawling with tourists.  Caius had managed to spend a relaxing hour wandering around before the train from Cusco had arrived.  Even though there are restrictions on the number of people walking the Inca Trail, there are none on the number that can visit the ruins.  From a height it looked like someone had been painting the ruins in splodges of white, blue, red, green, yellow and black.  What we were actually looking at was a load of tourists wearing ponchos, shuffling around in their organised tour.

It had been a good idea to walk in shorts, while it was raining, but now we were lower down and it was warmer we were the prime targets for sand flies again.  We were too engrossed in the excitement of going to Machu Picchu we had forgotten to put on any mosquito guard that morning.  They were particularly attracted to our bare legs, which were soon covered in small, weeping wounds.  Our early start had been worth it, but sharing the ruins with a couple of thousand other people (and sand flies) was not enjoyable, so we made our escape just as it started to rain – again.

Article taken from Inca Hoots by Caius Simmons & Vicky Brewis.

Technorati Tags: Inca Trail Peru, Machu Picchu Tours, Peru Holiday, Peru Travel Deals, Peru Vacations

Listed below are a number of sites which provide some interesting (and some bizarre) facts about Peru.

Facts About Peru – Find out the main facts about Peru. Its history, news, currency, economy, information, etc. Interesting Facts About Peru – Peru (officially the Republic of Peru) is a country located in South America. Here are some interesting facts about Peru. Interesting Facts About Peru Peru is classified as a ‘developing country’. About 40% of the population live in … Journal Peru » International Recognition for Peruvian produce – Journal Peru is powered by WordPress Copyright©  2006-2007 journalperu. Travel : Vacation » Blog Archive » Overview of Peru for Travelers – Peru is located on the upper west coast of South America. If you are considering Peru as a travel destination, following is an overview of the country. Historically, Peru was the location of the dominant early cultures in South America. Facts About Peru and Cusco – Below are a few random facts about Peru and the city of Cusco: The Peruvian currency is the Sole. One US dollar is equal to about three Peruvian Soles. Peruvians consider sitting with your ankle on your knee impolite. … Some interesting facts about Peru | Outer Travels Inner Journeys – So what does anyone actually know about Peru apart from the fact it’s where Paddington Bear came from and that it’s home to some fairly spectacular ancient ruins and monuments such as Machu Picchu? Don’t worry, your in the field …

Technorati Tags: Facts about Peru, Peru Travel, Peru Travel Deals

 

 

These travel writings capture the excitement and spirit of the South American Andes.

Our journey starts at the equator and takes us south through Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia and Chile. Wherever possible we leave the beaten track to get a true feel of the cultural, geographical and historical diversities of this inspirational continent.

Highlights include a tour of the mysterious Galapagos Islands, walking the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu, a humbling trip to a working mine (in Bolivia) which has claimed the lives of millions and being robbed at gunpoint.

Technorati Tags: Inca Trail Peru, Machu Picchu Tours, Peru Travel Deals

Your passport must be valid for six months from the date of travel.  If your passport is about to expire you will not be granted entrance to Peru.  It is also worthwhile checking whether you need a visa (www.peru.visahq.com/). 

Make two copies of all your travel documents (tickets, flights details, itineraries, passports) and leave one copy at home with friends or family. Keep any copies you carry with you separate from your other documents.

We also scanned our documents into a Word document which was then password protected and e-mailed to ourselves, so we could access them quickly if necessary.  Bear in mind that Internet Cafes are not necessary secure places to access this information.

When travelling between towns always have your passport with you as legally it needs to be ready for inspection at any time.  

Carry your money, passport, and credit card with you at all time – don’t rely on the safety of the hotel safes.  A concealed pocket within our trouser pockets once kept our cash safe (not in Peru I hasten to add) during an armed robbery.

Technorati Tags: Peru Holiday, Peru Travel, Peru Travel Deals

Before you begin your search for a good travel deals to Peru, there are some guidelines we suggest you follow to secure the best travel deals.

1. Be flexible with when you can travel.  If you can travel Monday-Thursday, you may be able to get a cheaper flight.  Non stop flights to Lima are the most expensive. Breaking up the long flight with a connecting flight (eg Quito in Ecuador) may save you money.

2. Booking flights on-line generally saves you money.

3. Last minute travel deals are becoming increasingly scarce.  It now seems that booking early ensures you get the best deals.

4. Book your travel for off-peak season (avoiding, for example, the Northern Hemispheres key summer holiday periods) to find exceptional travel deals and getaways.  

5. Travelling on holidays, such as Christmas Day, New Years Eve or July Fourth could save you quite a bit of money, as people will generally be reluctant to travel on these days.

6.  Compare prices from several airlines to determine which will offer the best price or provide specific travel deals.

Listed below are the main Airlines and Flight Agents operating flights to Peru.

Flights from the US and Canada to Peru

Airlines with flights from the US and Canada

Air Canada www.aircanada.com

American Airlines www.aa.com

Continental Airlines www.continental.com

Delta Airlines www.delta.com

LAN www.lan.com 

United Airlines www.ual.com

Flight Agents

STA Travel www.sta-travel.com

www.cheaptickets.com

www.exitotravel.com

www.travelcuts.com (from Canada) 

Flights from the UK

Airlines with flights from the UK

KLM www.klm.com  (flights via Amsterdam)

Iberia www.iberia.com (flights via Madrid)

Lufthansa www.lufthansa.co.uk 

American Airlines www.aa.com (via USA)

Continental Airlines www.continental.com  (via USA)

Delta Airlines www.delta.com  (via USA)

United Airlines www.unitedairlines.co.uk  (via USA)

Flight Agents

Bridge the World www.bridgetheworld.com

STA Travel www.statravel.co.uk

Trailfinders www.trailfinders.co.uk

Journey Latin America www.journeylatinamerica.co.uk

Travel Bag www.travelbag.com   

Flights from Australia and New Zealand

Airlines with flights from Australia and New Zealand

Aerolineas Argentinas www.aerolineas.com.au

Air New Zealand www.airnz.com

LAN www.lan.com 

Quantas www.quantas.com.au (Australia) or www.quantas.co.nz (New Zealand)

United Airlines www.unitedairlines.com.au (Australia) or www.unitedairlines.co.nz (New Zealand)

Technorati Tags: Peru Travel, Peru Travel Deals

The best way to withdraw money in Peru is from ATMs using Debit Cards. Once the money is withdrawn, the funds are immediately deducted from your bank account and (unlike Credit Cards) no interest is charged so long as you have sufficient funds in your account. The exchange rates are generally good. You may find, however, that like credit cards you may be limited to the amount that you can withdraw each day. If your card is damaged, you forget your pin (like I did) or have your card stolen, then you have a problem unless you have a contingency.

It is worth carrying with you a number of mint condition US dollars. Really make sure they are in good condition as even the smallest of bends or tears will make exchange virtually impossible. If you are not under pressure to have your US dollars changed, then it is comical to watch the extreme lengths the vendor goes through to ensure the notes are legitimate.

Traveller’s cheques are a bit of a headache to cash, are expensive and not widely recognised. If you do take TCs then by far the best and most easily changed are American Express. Remember to keep a record of all the cheque numbers and the original bill of sale in a safe place. You will find that the exchange rate for TC’s is 1.5% to 2% lower than for cash 

Changing money on the street is perfectly legal in Peru.  Although the exchange rate is generally not bad, it is not recommended, unless absolutely necessary.

Technorati Tags: money, Peru, Peru Travel Deals

A friend of mine who travels a lot within Peru talked to me about Suasi Island in 2007. The first time I heard of it, I did not even know where it was. Suasi Island is a wonderful private island located on the north-eastern part of the Lake Titicaca shore at 3,816 msnm / 12,520 ftsl. The fact that I did not know about it and the amazing things I had heard of made me finally book my trip to Suasi in May 2008. I had high expectations of this island; hence, I decided to go on my own given that none of friends could go along.

To get there, I first had to flight to Juliaca and then drive for 45 minutes to arrive to the city of Puno, the capital of the department of Puno. I stayed in Puno for one day to acclimatize to the high altitude. That day I rested, took some oxygen, had an Andean soup and walked around the city for a bit. Without knowing if there were more travellers going to Suasi Island during the three days I spent there, I waited for the transportation to pick me up and take me to the port. To my surprise, I happened to meet a couple from Spain, a couple of newlyweds from Italy and a group of 5 Peruvians, all going in the same direction. After introducing each other, we all immediately bonded.

The boat ride stops in the floating Islands of Uros and Taquile where we had the chance to stop and interact with the local high plateau people. It was just fascinating to find out about their ancient ways to live, their eating habits and their dances, music and traditions. After leaving Taquile Island, we continued our boat ride for one more hour. As soon as we could make out the first views of Suasi, we all went quiet to absorb so much nature, so much beauty. We arrived around noon time and were welcomed by the hotel staff that really spoiled us all the time we were there. Before we had a BBQ based on local products and meats, the island guide explained to all of us all there is to know and to do. After lunch, we walked up the island towards the hotel installations to get our rooms assigned. We all had rooms overlooking Lake Titicaca and terraces full of flowers and hummingbirds. An incredible view!

Visiting Martha’s cultural cabin, canoeing around the island, walking up Itapilluni Mountain at sunset time, observing vicunas and the island’s unique fauna or just contemplating the blue immensity of Lake Titicaca which could be seen from every corner in the island are some of the breathtaking activities we shared while in Suasi. If you were not doing an activity around the island, you were reading a book in a hammock or just sharing interesting conversations with some of the travellers in the hotel’s terrace. All these together with the hotel’s superb Andean-nouveau cuisine makes of this trip an experience beyond travel.

Suasi Island is a refugee for travelers who want to discover the marvelous experience of Lake Titicaca, a place where men and nature remain in harmony.

More than a place, Suasi Island is a contemplative experience!

Intense Peru; Toll Free (US & Canada) 1-800 644 1024; skype user: intenseperu; sales@intenseperu.com; www.intenseperu.com

Peru Travel Deals do not know Intense Peru – the article is published on the Peru Travel Deals blog for interest only.

Technorati Tags: Lake Titicaca, Peru Holiday, Peru Travel Deals, Peru Vacations, Suasi Island