How we did a Peru Trip from Sunday – Friday:
Sunday: JFK to LIM 2:35PM Flight (Booked Latam Business Class using Avios points) Arrived 9:30PM checked into hotel across airport, very convenient.
Monday: Half Day excursion to Palomino Islands & Swimming with Sea Lions - got cancelled due to high winds. Based on reviews there’s high chances of getting sea sick, and unbearable smells, so we are grateful it got cancelled. However had we known in advance, we would have taken an earlier flight to Cusco and fit in another activity like the salt mine or potato fields. Instead we spent the first half of the day in the Inca market and bought beautiful Alpaca scarves for a bargain.
Took LIM – CUZ flight: Checked into Marriott El Convento Cusco – used two free Bonvoy Marriot nights, would highly recommend this hotel for its location and ratings. (cool perk, hotel has baby lama – Alpaca, roaming around)
Tuesday: Tour of Laguna Haymuntai, with a private driver. We rented horses on the spot to take us up and down the mountain. – views are incredible.
Wednesday: ATV Tour of Rainbow Mountain, the last 45 minutes is a hike up, which you can take a horse or motorcycle up. We found that there is only one company that offers ATV until the peak. +51 997-879-102
- Would have liked to include the red river (45 min away) but doing the ATV tour brings you to the other side of the mountain which is too far of a drive.
- After Rainbow Mountain, drove to Ollantaytambo – where we stayed in a capsule at Vertical Sky Luxury Suites. This is the only capsule hotel that climbing is optional (access is by road with ATV) fully functioning toilets and a tub in the capsule. They also offer Domes. Was a beautiful experience.
Thursday: Peru rail from Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes and the bus to Machu Picchu.
(the only way to access Machu Picchu is with the bus from Aguas Calientes or by foot, no other vehicle is allowed in this city)
(luggage storage at Ollantaytambo train station is a bit complicated, allow yourself time for it)
Machu Picchu we didn’t need more than 2 hours touring the actual site, the bus to and from the train station is about half hour, but give additional time for the long lines, you may need to wait for a few buses to come and go for a spot. Best is to prepurchase the bus tickets to avoid having to wait on the ticket line as well.
Upon arriving to Machu Picchu tour guides harass you to hire them, would highly recommend not hiring a guide so that you can do it at your own pace. In addition at all viewpoints there are numerous tour guides explaining the history, you can just listen in to any of them without having to be stuck with them.
After touring Machu Picchu we took the Inca Rail back to Ollantaytambo, picked up our luggage and drove to Cusco Airport 8:40Pm flight to LIM. Then LIM 12:00am – arriving Friday 9:10am at JFK
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