Hey guys! My boyfriend and I are in our final planing stages for our trip to Peru and Colombia. I just wanted to check to see if this itinerary seems reasonable. My main concern is if we are staying too little or too long in each place. Also if you have any ideas of anything cool we should see along this route that would be much appreciated. We love to go hiking, rock climbing, rafting, mountain biking, hanging at the beach, and eating good food. Thanks!
5/8 arrive in Cuzco
5/9 explore city and find a jungle tour
5/10 explore city
5/11 start 3 day jungle trek to Machu Picchu
5/15 overnight bus to Puerto Maldonado
5/16 eco lodge tour (3 days)
5/18 night bus to Cuzco
5/19 Peru hop bus
5/20 Arequipa/ colca canyon (3 days)
5/23 bus to huacachina
5/25 bus to Lima
5/26 bus to huaraz
5/27 book Santa Cruz tour/ rock climb/ mountain bike
5/28 laguna 69
5/29 Santa Cruz trek
6/2 bus to Lima
6/3 fly to Santa Marta
6/4 bus to taganga
6/5 find a dive shop to get padi certified
6/5-6/9 get padi certified
6/9 bus to minca
6/11 bus to tayrona
6/13 bus to Cartagena
Any ideas of things to do from 6/13-6/21 near cartagena or along the coast would be awesome since we have a whole week of extra time :)
6/21 fly home
I've seen a lot worse into itineraries proposed. That said it's a little rushed for me.
I'm not sure 3 days is enough for Puerto Maldonado. To get to some of the deeper lodges takes the best part of a day, meaning you would only have 1 full day in the jungle. If you are going to go all that way to get there a 5 day tour seems to make more sense. I would also consider flying straight there from Lima at the start of the trip, then doing Cusco afterwards to save on time and busing to and from Puerto Maldonado from Cusco isn't going to be a lot of fun.
I would say your Cusco MP section covers the very minimum. You could easily extend this considerably and explore the sacred valley. Again 3 days in Arequipa is probably the very minimum (1 day in the city and 2 in canyon).
Lima. You are bypassing straight through. I think the old town is worth at least a day. Makes sense to stop here to break up a long journey if nothing else.
Huaraz. Looks fine. Although if you are into hiking, climbing, and mountain biking you could easily spend way longer here.
Can't help with Colombia.
You seem to be more into nature and adventure activities and maybe less into ruins but I agree that you should make time for the Sacred Valley: Ollantaytambo, Moray, the Maras salineras... are all great and the scenery is amazing as well. Lots of hiking possibilities. Rafting as well.
Make sure you hike up one of the mountains at MP. Tell the Jungle Trek tour operator that is what you want to do.
I am not sure why you are considering Peru Hop. Nothing wrong with them as far as I know but it would be cheaper to just take a bus to Arequipa (and yes, it would be nice to have a day to explore the city) and go trekking in the canyon (assuming that is what you want to do) on your own. We spent two nights in the canyon (three would have been better). You can take a bus to Cabanaconde and every hotel there can help you plan. We found this website very helpful:
http://www.pachamamahome.com/cabanaconde.htm
You can take an overnight bus from Arequipa to Ica for Huacachina. It would be nice to go to Paracas as well (Ballestas Islands and Paracas Reserve) but now I am adding even more...
Peru has great food!
I replied to the Colombia part of your itinerary on the Colombia forum.
Yes, all the advice above is good. Your Peru itinerary does look too rushed, too fast. Probably you should add 5 or so days to the itinerary so you have time to do everything you want to do, plus the transport to get from place to place. You have more than enough time budgeted for the things you listed in Colombia.
And yes, you will need more than 3 days for a jungle trip from Puerto Maldonado. If a lodge quotes you a 3 day/2 night itinerary, the first and last days are for transit to/from the lodge, so that only leaves you one full day for the jungle.
The agency that bought me sent good itineraries for all of Peru, they recommend places that now would not be good and I think they are on your list, also told me that 3 days is not enough for Tambopata, it is better 4 or 5 days, you can contact with them. www.adviceperu.com
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