Here is an itinerary we actually followed in May 2011. This trip took us to Machu Picchu, Arequipa, and the Nasca Lines in 7 days/6 nights. The additional costs, including the US$80.00 for the Nasca plane tour, was roughly US$130.00. Total costs for this itinerary was US$430.00.
Day 1.
15:00 Bus departs from Lima to Cusco (22 hours)
Overnight on bus
Day 2.
13:00 Bus arrives at Cusco. Eat lunch.
14:30 Take a colectivo to Ollantaytambo (1.5 hours)
16:00 Colectivo arrives in Ollantaytambo
19:00 Train (Peru Rail) departs for Machu Picchu Pueblo (formerly Aguas Calientes) (2 hours)
21:00 Train arrives in Machu Picchu Pueblo. Check in to lodging. Eat dinner.
Overnight in Machu Picchu Pueblo.
Day 3
7:00 Eat breakfast
8:00 Take bus up the mountain to Machu Picchu.
Spend day sightseeing. Pack a picnic lunch.
15:00 Take the bus back down to Machu Picchu Pueblo. Relax the rest of the evening. Eat dinner.
Overnight in Machu Picchu Pueblo.
Day 4
7:30 Eat breakfast.
9:00 Train departs for Ollantaytambo (1.5 hours)
10:30 Train arrives in Ollantaytambo. Take colectivo back to Cusco. (1.5 hours)
12:00 Colectivo arrives in Cusco. Eat lunch.
20:30 Bus departs for Arequipa (10 hours)
Overnight on bus.
Day 5
6:30 Bus arrives in Arequipa. Check in to hotel.
Sightsee all day in Arequipa.
Overnight in Arequipa.
Day 6
Sightsee all morning and afternoon in Arequipa.
16:00 Bus departs for Nasca (13 hours).
Overnight on bus.
Day 7
5:00 Bus arrives in Nazca. Check in to hotel for half day.
9:00 Sightsee Nasca lines in a plane. Eat lunch in Nasca.
13:00 Take bus to Ica (2.5 hours).
15:30 Arrive in Ica. Take bus to Lima from Ica (5 hours)
20:30 Arrive in Lima.
The additional costs: US$127.00
Total additional transportation costs: S/. 70.00 (US$26.00)
1. Bus ticket from Cusco to Arequipa: S/. 60.00
2. Bus ticket from Arequipa to Nasca: S/. 90.00
3. Bus tickets from Nasca to Lima: S/. 30.00
4. Minus bus ticket from Cusco to Lima: - S/. 110.00
Total additional lodging costs: S/. 55.00 (US$21.00)
1. Hotel in Arequipa: S/. 30.00
2. Hotel in Nasca: S/. 25.00
Total additional miscellaneous costs: S/. 120.00 (US$45.00) + US$80
1. Meals: S/. 30.00 a day x 3 additional days = S/ 90.00. Round up to S/. 100.00
2. Taxis: S/. 20.00
3. Nasca plane tour: US$80.00
Monday, October 31, 2011
Sunday, October 30, 2011
Machu Picchu (Part 2): Sample Itinerary #1
Here is a sample itinerary for the trip mentioned in Part 1. This would take 5 days/4 nights.
Day 1.
15:00 Bus departs from Lima to Cusco (22 hours)
Overnight on bus
Day 2.
13:00 Bus arrives at Cusco. Eat lunch.
14:30 Take a colectivo to Ollantaytambo (1.5 hours)
16:00 Colectivo arrives in Ollantaytambo
19:00 Train (Peru Rail) departs for Machu Picchu Pueblo (formerly Aguas Calientes) (1.5 - 2 hours)
21:00 Train arrives in Machu Picchu Pueblo. Check in to lodging. Eat dinner.
Overnight in Machu Picchu Pueblo.
Day 3
7:00 Eat breakfast
8:00 Take bus up the mountain to Machu Picchu.
Spend day sightseeing. Pack a picnic lunch.
15:00 Take the bus back down to Machu Picchu Pueblo. Relax the rest of the evening. Eat dinner.
Overnight in Machu Picchu Pueblo.
Day 4
7:30 Eat breakfast.
9:00 Train departs for Ollantaytambo (1.5 hours)
10:30 Train arrives in Ollantaytambo. Take colectivo back to Cusco. (1.5 hours)
12:00 Colectivo arrives in Cusco. Eat lunch.
17:00 Bus departs for Lima (22 hours)
Overnight on bus.
Day 5
15:00 Bus arrives in Lima
Obviously, one can tweak the itinerary to spend more time in Cusco, Ollantaytamo, Machu Picchu, and other Peruvian cities. The costs of staying extra days is not significant. You could also cut costs further by returning to Cusco the same day you go up the mountain, and cut the trip down to 4 days/3 nights. But in my experience, it is well worth resting after a hard day of sightseeing and climbing.
More details in Part 3.
Day 1.
15:00 Bus departs from Lima to Cusco (22 hours)
Overnight on bus
Day 2.
13:00 Bus arrives at Cusco. Eat lunch.
14:30 Take a colectivo to Ollantaytambo (1.5 hours)
16:00 Colectivo arrives in Ollantaytambo
19:00 Train (Peru Rail) departs for Machu Picchu Pueblo (formerly Aguas Calientes) (1.5 - 2 hours)
21:00 Train arrives in Machu Picchu Pueblo. Check in to lodging. Eat dinner.
Overnight in Machu Picchu Pueblo.
Day 3
7:00 Eat breakfast
8:00 Take bus up the mountain to Machu Picchu.
Spend day sightseeing. Pack a picnic lunch.
15:00 Take the bus back down to Machu Picchu Pueblo. Relax the rest of the evening. Eat dinner.
Overnight in Machu Picchu Pueblo.
Day 4
7:30 Eat breakfast.
9:00 Train departs for Ollantaytambo (1.5 hours)
10:30 Train arrives in Ollantaytambo. Take colectivo back to Cusco. (1.5 hours)
12:00 Colectivo arrives in Cusco. Eat lunch.
17:00 Bus departs for Lima (22 hours)
Overnight on bus.
Day 5
15:00 Bus arrives in Lima
Obviously, one can tweak the itinerary to spend more time in Cusco, Ollantaytamo, Machu Picchu, and other Peruvian cities. The costs of staying extra days is not significant. You could also cut costs further by returning to Cusco the same day you go up the mountain, and cut the trip down to 4 days/3 nights. But in my experience, it is well worth resting after a hard day of sightseeing and climbing.
More details in Part 3.
Saturday, October 29, 2011
Machu Picchu (Part 1): $300/ person from Lima
The costs of traveling to Machu Picchu (MP) can appear daunting and impossible. Travel agencies often charge upwards of $1500 per person for a Machu Picchu tour, not including airfare to Lima. Here is how you can take your kids to see one of the world's best archaelogical marvels, even if you're on a tight budget.
First, you need the following prerequisites.
1. Go during the "low" season. High season is when tourists flock into MP in droves. This period (June - September) corresponds to the dry season at MP, as well as summer for the northern hemisphere. During the rest of the year, there is always the risk of having to climb the steep stone steps of MP in the rain. The best time to go is late May or early October, when it is close enough to the dry season to minimize risk of inclement weather, but when you can still get to see the sights without the crowds and the super high prices.
2. Airfare. This is the biggest cost of the trip. You have to fly everyone to Lima, Peru (LIM). There are numerous ways to shop around for the biggest savings in airfare, but for most people, you will have to save for what will likely cost between $800 to $1300 per person.
3. Spanish. Unfortunately, knowing sufficient Spanish to negotiate is necessary to travel cheaply. This is always the case in international travel: those who don't know the local language have to pay "foreigner" prices for the same services.
Once you're in Peru, the expensive part is taken care of. Getting to MP shouldn't cost much more than $300 a person for the experienced, Spanish-speaking budget traveler. Here's how.
All currency is in the Peruvian Nuevo Sol or S/. or US Dollar $. The current exchange rate is S/. 2.70 for US$1. If the dollar keeps falling, it would cost more dollars to make the trip, obviously.
Transportation total: S/. 260.00 (US$97.00) + US$82 = US$179 roundtrip
1. Lima to Cusco by bus (22 hours): S/. 220.00 roundtrip.
2. Cusco to Ollantaytambo by shared taxi/van (1.5 hours): S/. 20.00 roundtrip.
3. Ollantaytambo to Machu Picchu town by train (1.5 hours): US$66 roundtrip.
4. Bus to Machu Picchu (30 minutes): US$15.50
5. Miscellaneous taxis and bus station fees: S/. 20.00 roundtrip
Lodging total: S/. 100.00 (US$37.00)
Hotel in Machu Picchu 2 nights: S/. 50.00 x 2 = S/. 100.00
Meals total: S/. 70.00 (US$26)
1. Snacks, water on bus: S/. 10.00
2. Lunch in Cusco: S/. 10.00
3. Dinner in MP town x 2: S/. 20.00
4. Breakfast in MP town x 2: S/. 10.00
5. Picnic lunch on MP: S/. 10.00
6. Lunch in Cusco: S/. 10.00
Machu Picchu Entrance Fees: S/. 126.00 (US$47)
Total Trip: US$289.
Details to follow in Part 2.
First, you need the following prerequisites.
1. Go during the "low" season. High season is when tourists flock into MP in droves. This period (June - September) corresponds to the dry season at MP, as well as summer for the northern hemisphere. During the rest of the year, there is always the risk of having to climb the steep stone steps of MP in the rain. The best time to go is late May or early October, when it is close enough to the dry season to minimize risk of inclement weather, but when you can still get to see the sights without the crowds and the super high prices.
2. Airfare. This is the biggest cost of the trip. You have to fly everyone to Lima, Peru (LIM). There are numerous ways to shop around for the biggest savings in airfare, but for most people, you will have to save for what will likely cost between $800 to $1300 per person.
3. Spanish. Unfortunately, knowing sufficient Spanish to negotiate is necessary to travel cheaply. This is always the case in international travel: those who don't know the local language have to pay "foreigner" prices for the same services.
Once you're in Peru, the expensive part is taken care of. Getting to MP shouldn't cost much more than $300 a person for the experienced, Spanish-speaking budget traveler. Here's how.
All currency is in the Peruvian Nuevo Sol or S/. or US Dollar $. The current exchange rate is S/. 2.70 for US$1. If the dollar keeps falling, it would cost more dollars to make the trip, obviously.
Transportation total: S/. 260.00 (US$97.00) + US$82 = US$179 roundtrip
1. Lima to Cusco by bus (22 hours): S/. 220.00 roundtrip.
2. Cusco to Ollantaytambo by shared taxi/van (1.5 hours): S/. 20.00 roundtrip.
3. Ollantaytambo to Machu Picchu town by train (1.5 hours): US$66 roundtrip.
4. Bus to Machu Picchu (30 minutes): US$15.50
5. Miscellaneous taxis and bus station fees: S/. 20.00 roundtrip
Lodging total: S/. 100.00 (US$37.00)
Hotel in Machu Picchu 2 nights: S/. 50.00 x 2 = S/. 100.00
Meals total: S/. 70.00 (US$26)
1. Snacks, water on bus: S/. 10.00
2. Lunch in Cusco: S/. 10.00
3. Dinner in MP town x 2: S/. 20.00
4. Breakfast in MP town x 2: S/. 10.00
5. Picnic lunch on MP: S/. 10.00
6. Lunch in Cusco: S/. 10.00
Machu Picchu Entrance Fees: S/. 126.00 (US$47)
Total Trip: US$289.
Details to follow in Part 2.
About this blog
We are a homeschooling family currently living in Peru. About twice a year, we go on a big sightseeing trip within Peru or somewhere else. There are very few blogs (relatively) out there on international traveling with children, especially said travel on a tight budget. So I thought I would throw my two cents out into the vast internet void. Hopefully, you'll see it doesn't have to cost much to take your kids to see our world.
I realize now that a lot of my travel blogging is going to be retroactive, accounted mostly from memory. I wish now that I had thought to write down names and numbers of hotels and restaurants and give other travelers more specific information. But hopefully, sharing our experiences in general will give others an idea of what is possible.
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