Planning Peru backpacking in December for 15 days, help from experts please
Replies: 4 - Last Post: Dec 4, 2012 11:14 PM Last Post By: PeruStart
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Planning Peru backpacking in December for 15 days, help from experts please
I suddenly decided maybe I should go to South America for December for about 15 days (12/15~1/2 available) and after searching for quite a bit landing at Lima, Peru sounds like a good idea. I am a male in late 20s and will be solo backpacking (first time), speak no Spanish, trying to bus through trips, and want to stay in hostels if possible. I am trying to stay in budget to make this trip more meaningful, but willing to spend more if I need to.What I plan initially is to tour around Lima and head to Cuzco and Matchu Picchu, as well as destinations between Lima and Cuzco. If time permits, and if it is not too much of a mess and money, I would love to visit Amazon rainforest, even if it is rain season in December, for maybe about 3~4 days maximum spent for that tour. And if time permits and better to cross border, I would love to go to more countries like Bolivia.
I never thought about backpacking and once I searched, South America is very big even for 15 days duration of trip. I would love to experience as much as I could in that given time with flexibility. Could some experts give me a outlined trip so I can figure out my detailed plan? I did order the book from lonely planet just now and would like to plan details as soon as I receive the book. I would like to seek your advice for places to avoid, maximizing time/efficiency and anything that would help me for this trip. Since I am traveling solo, I am very open for pretty much anything, unless I need to risk my safety.
Thank you in advance!!!
1
Also check out Arequipa and Puno (Lake Titicaca) if you have time. You can bus through Arequipa and Puno on your way to Cusco, and fly back to Lima to save you some time. 1st class buses in Peru are very comfortable, double decker, air con, TV and reclining seats.15 days should be good for the main parts of Peru. Amazonas may have to wait for another trip.
Should book your train ticket from Cusco to Machu Picchu early online if you can, December could be high tourist season, train tickets usually sell out quick.
2
Spent 2 weeks in peru about a year and a half ago and it was awesome. Took a bus from Lima to Ica and spent 2 nights in Huacachina which was a very backpacker friendly little oasis (literally, an oasis). It was really easy to plan trips around the region from the hostels around the little lake and it was a friendly place to get used to Peru and the language.Check out Paracas nature preserve as well - awesome day trip that included the Ballestas Islands via boat.
3
With 2 weeks, you can have a great Peru trip. You may want to consider adding in-country flights between Lima and Cusco. Or you can do the trips by overnight bus, but adding even a one way flight will save a lot of time. With only 2 weeks, you won't have time to get down into Bolivia as well. Cusco, the Sacred Valley and Macchu Piccu alone will take one week.Then you would have time to go down to the jungle, to Puerto Maldonado, and spend a few days. If you choose that, you'd want to book your jungle lodge well in advance.
Or you could go south to Lake Titicaca, and visit Puno, and one of the lake islands, like Isla Amantani. Going to Lago de Titicaca, you can if you want fly back to Lima from Juliaca airport. What you won't have time for is Lake Titicaca and the Peru jungle both.
Note: If you do decide on Lake Titicaca, from Puno, don't sign up for a tour group, but go down to the harbor on your own, and just get a boat to Isla Amantani; you'll see all the same things as the other tousists, but the timing works so you can largely avoid the crowds of other tourists.
4
Hi all,This is my first post here for my first solo trip too! I will be travelling Peru during the last two weeks of Dec, and wanted suggestions on how to travel from Cuzco to Arequipa to Puerto Maldonado to Lima.
I suppose Puerto Maldonado to Lima will be via air, but can anyone suggest whether bus is safe for Cuzco to Arequipa to Puerto Maldonado? And which one to go for?
Thanks a lot for your recommendations and opinions!
