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[exploreamerica]

Well, I am planning a trip to Peru for 7 or 8 days starting on march 28th. I am looking at tours that include Lima, Cuzco, Sacred Valley and a definite overnighter at Machu Picchu. I am just waiting for my friend to get permission from his boss on December 28th so I can make the arrangements. If he doesn't go then maybe someone else would like to join me.


Anyway, the reason for posting is that even if my friend goes I would then like to stay for one extra week. can anyone help me decide what to do???

One otion I was thinking was to bus from Cuzco down to Puno and Lake Titicaca. And I do that then it looks like another short bus ride to Copacabana and La PAZ, Bolivia. Depending on the time I may then fly north to Quito, Ecuador before flying back to Florida.

Another option is to fly from Cuzco north to Iquitos, Peru for a couple days in the jungle and to go on the suspension bridge canopy walkway. From there I can then fly north to Quito, Ecuador.


How does any of this sound? Are these good ideas? What are better ideas??

[wakingdream]

Fun!

I haven't been to Bolivia but heard great things about La Paz.

Puno is not as interesting as many other places but deserves a few hours of exploration anyway. I loved Lake Titicaca. I thought it was pretty amazing and we had a great time exploring. Personally, only if I HAD to choose, I'd choose Iquitos over Lake Titacaca only because I'm a nature nut, but both are incredible.

How intent are you on getting to Bolivia? I suppose that could be one deciding factor.......

Are you planning either one full day at the lake or one full day in the jungle? Or do you have a couple of days to dedicate to either one you choose?

So, two days initial tour MP, Sacred Valley etc (exceptional! You'll love it all!), then a couple of days either in the jungle or at the lake, then a day or two in Copa/La Paz, and then on to Quitos b4 you head home?

[hdh]

You could take a tour into the Manu Biosphere reserve from Cusco, or bus down to Arequipa, spend a couple of days there and then take a trip into the Colca canyon to see the condors (which in my opinion are one of THE highlights of South America).

Personally, I wouldn't bother with Puno - Titicaca's pretty and the reed villages are way cool, but Puno itself's nothing to write home about. Like wakingdream I haven't been to La Paz but have heard great things about it, and certainly we loved the chunk of Bolivia we did get to. You can also go into the jungle from La Paz via Rurrenabaque, and it's a lot cheaper than in Peru.