Do
-
check up to date travel advice. Peru is an amazing country but not always that
- safe. We never experienced any kind of trouble but it's still wise to keep yourself
- informed (www.minbuza.nl or www.fco.gov.uk);
- check every bill you receive. There is a lot of fake money around (we received
- fake money at the entrance of Chan Chan). Pay attention at the size, numbers on
- the bill and the watermark. Buy a small blacklight torch (very cheap) to check for
- hidden marks. Be aware of switching tricks! For instance, a waiter takes your bill
- and comes back to say the bill is false, but in fact he switched it for a fake one;
- book your buses at the busstation, preferable the day you arrive at the station, it
- is cheaper. Peru has a good bus system with different companies;
- visit the Chimu capitol of Chan Chan and the Moche pyramids of the Temples of
- the Sun and Moon (Huaca del Sol y Huaca de la Luna) near Trujillo. Go by
- yourself, it is easily done;
- take the scenic route through the Cañon del Pato to Huaraz from Trujillo, when
- you are not afraid of heights and amaze yourself at the many snowcapped peaks;
- experience Huascaran National Park and stay in Huaraz at Olaza's Guest House,
- with rooftop terrace (www.andeanexplorer.com/olaza) and eat, drink or read at
- cafe Andino, it is very good (Lucary Torre 530, 3rd floor);
- see Lima and its cultural highlights. If you're in desperate need for some luxury,
- see a movie and eat fastfood at Jockey Plaza mall. We stayed in the city center
- of Lima and never had any problems (as stated in many guidebooks) but
- Miraflores is a nicer area;
- fly to Iquitos if you want to see the Amazon. We stayed for 3 days at Muyuna
- Amazon Lodge, 130 km / 80 miles south from Iquitos (www.muyuna.com).
- Alternatively go the Manu area or Puerto Maldonado;
- visit beautiful Cusco and its surrounding highlights, such as the Sacred Valley and
- the ruins nearby. Cusco is a great place to adjust to the height (drink lots of coca
- tea) before hiking the Inca Trail.
- stay in Cusco at one of the Niños hotels (fantastic
food, clean and friendly) and
- visit one of their childrens restaurants, part of the project (www.ninoshotel.com).
- Another foundation doing lots of good work, in and around Cusco, is Stichting
- Hope / Hope Foundation (www.stichtinghope.org). The nice Hostal Marani
- (www.hostalmarani.com) is also connected with this foundation;
- absolutely hike the Inca Trail but book at least 2 months ahead if you go in the
- high season. And remember that in February the Trail is closed for clean up. We
- had an amazing trip and can recommend SAS Travel Peru for their high quality
- (www.sastravelperu.com);
- take a trip to one of the floating reet islands in the Titicaca lake. It is a bit
- touristy, but still makes a nice and interesting excursion. If you go in the
- morning, you still have time to visit Sillustani in the afternoon;
- spend some time in the charming Arequipa and visit the enormous Monastery of
- Santa Catalina (www.santacatalina.org.pe) and go see the Ice Princess, Juanita,
- at the Santuarios Andinos museum (www.ucsm.edu.pe/santury). Restaurant El
- Turko has good food;
- make a trip to the famous Cruz del Cóndor and wait untill 'el cóndor pasa'... We
- booked a trip at Giardino Tours (www.giardinotours.com);
- fly above the Nazca Lines, even when you get sick very quickly: it's worth it!
- Bring a bag, many people need it (like us);
- wax your board (or rent one) and go sandboarding in the dunes around
- Huacachina. We can recommend the very new Hotel El Huacachinero
- (www.elhuacachinero.com).

Don't
- step in a cab with only 2 doors, already one passenger, no signs or when the cab
- driver approaches you. Ask around in your hotel which ones are safe;
- expect to find many alternatives for night buses, you might have to take one;
- stay at Hostelling International La Posada in Mancora, it is a fake. The Lonely
- Planet states it is HI-affiliated, but it is not, we checked. Rooms are dirty and
- people are unfriendly. Spend some more money and stay at one of the beachfront
- hotels;
- skip Chachapoyas if you have time. We weren't able to go because of time and
- heard it's a pain to get there but very worthwile;
- be surprised to see high prices in Huaraz, it has become expensive (20$ for a
- room is minimum);
- expect low prices in Cusco. If you want to see most of the hightlights you have
- to buy a 'boleto turistico' and this ticket is very expensive (used to be $10, in
- 2006 $23). For seeing the churches you have to buy another one ($12);
- stay in Hostal Los Pinos in Puno. The owner was very unfriendly and there's no
- hot water 24 hours a day, regardless what they say;

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