I am going to fly into Lima from Los Angeles. After that I'd like to go to Cuzco (and Machu Picchu). Is it better to fly there, or can I take a bus or train?
2007-02-18 06:15:08 · 7 answers · asked by l.marie 3 in Travel ➔ Latin America ➔ Peru
I'd suggest you fly to Cuzco its a 45 min flight vs 18 hours on a bus. Flights are relatively cheap, $160-$200 two-way ticket.
From Cuzco to Machu-Pichu you can go by train, bus or hiking (6 days by foot). Train is the most used and fastest, some people like walking there like an expedition, there is the Inca trail where you can go camping on your way there. I guess a lot depends on the amount of time and money you have and how much of an adventurer you are.
2007-02-19 08:48:33 · answer #1 · answered by alexpassini 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Born and raised in Lima, Peru. I travelled to the Inca capital 4 times. One is by air 55 minutes or by road private car, about 2 days. The road trip is awesome. You can take the PanAmerican highway south out of Lima along the coast through the Atacama Desert (the most arid in the world) to Nazca, about 5-6 hours, where you can view the Nazca Lines on the sand, another archeological wonder that has many people flying over them all the time. From Nazca you can travel to Abancay another state into the Andes and spend the night there. This road is an actual Inca cargo road. The next day take the same road to Cuzco. In Cuzco there are many ruins, spanish colonial cathedrals, places to shop for alpaca sweaters, different restaurants. From Cuzco to Macchu Picchu you may travel by train (3 hours), helicopter (45 minutes) or hike (4-5 days for average hiker). I have never travelled there by helicopter. The hike is awesome, it is an actual 2000 year old Inca foot trail. Other side trips are Iquitos (where the Amazon river starts), Arequipa (the White City, white because the majority of the construction comes from "sillar" or white volcanic lava), and Puno (Lake Titicaca - the highest lake in the world.) Do your own research on net on these and depending on your time you may fit them into your trip.
2007-02-18 06:55:10 · answer #2 · answered by Mark T 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Well, coming from the Bolivian side, the evening train gets robbed and some advise to handcuff your luggage to you. BAD IDEA unless you have a spare hand/wrist.
DO NOT RESIST. Best prevention is travel light with zero watches, jewellery and the like. Don't look too smart or rich.
Don't worry about the train-jacking as the guys that rent you a room for the night will sell you your stuff for a small fee - Let's call it "Entry Fee".
Your best way to find the reply to this question is via LonelyPlanet.com or indirectly via the Peru option at my http://travel.holidays.com/links2#sam
Don't underestimate the dangers of travelling in Peru and certainly don't go alone. Read the Aussie Smarttraveller recommendations (http://tinyurl.com/2cgfn4) and the UK Foreign Office advise (http://tinyurl.com/nsnx).
The advice pages are updated regularly worldwide and the UK version distinguishes between NoGo, Take Great Care, and Take Care (see my African pages at http://travel.holidays.com/links2#wafrica) This cautionary advice (as per 2007) will be built into all dodgy countries.
A further advice in SAM countries. The guy who approaches single or pairs of girls with the sob story that he needs help to write to his sister is a rapist.
Also, a cheap hotel with electrically driven shower! Put on rubber shoes and hold a finger under it. Sometimes you get the water AND the power.
Enjoy the trip - Peru is presently a voyage country as long as you take care and don't go out on the town at night.
It's a long ride from Lima to Cusco - check out the timetables before deciding and cross yourself if you fly up there (see Tans Peru story at http://travel.holidays.com/links2#saper
No need to be nervous but "there aint no cops to help" They might just be the robbers ;-)
2007-02-20 01:21:25 · answer #3 · answered by bayrnyskeddan 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
The best option is fly , if you need more information about Perù , Ecuador , Chile , Bolivia
visit this site www.iloveecotourism.com
2007-02-20 10:58:35 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Flying is definitely your best option, faster, cheaper and safer too than traveling by bus. Have a ball there, I did.
2007-02-18 06:50:51 · answer #5 · answered by Pauline N 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Fly. You do NOT want to take a bus, believe me.
Flights are cheap from Lima.
Have fun, we did - been in Peru twice.
2007-02-18 06:23:04 · answer #6 · answered by Pacifica 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
bus takes 20 hours, prepare takes slightly extra, i could decide for bus, you are able to take it in one day , the undertaking with trains is that the railway could be blocked by using climate, which got here approximately to me as quickly as.
2016-12-17 13:07:19 · answer #7 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋