I am an aussie planning to travel with my Chinese girlfriend from Perth and spending 2 months in SA from early Sep07 on a round the world ticket. Question "Is it a big deal to get to Lima and then buy your tours locally to NAZCA, Colca Canyon, Cusco, Machu Piccu, Puno. Have a reasonable budget (dont want to back pack or trek but we are both very fit) would like to save on expenses when I can. I dont want to pay commissions to fat cat tour operators in Oz or the UK for something an engineer can sort out on the net"
Also I want to know the best method (bus/air/hire car/boat) and where to go between Santiago, Perto Natales, Punta Arenas, Ushuaia, El Calafate, Bariloche and BA. Can somebody recommend a itinary or give me a link to a good blog of a recent trip. I have about 2-3 weeks for this trip south of Santiago through the bottom and up to BA. I would like to get to these places myself and then take 1-2 day tours locally to places of interest. Perhaps there are places mentioned that are a waste of time??
Unlike myself visa for my partner (a permanent resident (chinese)) is a nightmare............its easier winning lotto, hence do not have the benefit of coming in and out of a country many times
Many Thanks
sinbad52
1
jezhealy
Peru has more tourists, and more local tour operators than you could possibly imagine. It's basically like Cairns. You will have no problems at all turning up and organising things on the day. The one exception to this is the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu, for which (I think) you now need to secure permits months in advance, however, you suggest you won't be trekking so I presume this won't be an issue for you? It's perfectly possible to visit Machu Picchu as a day trip without doing the trek.
Pro tip
Lonely Planet
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