Peru & Bolivia Travel Review: Archeological Sites, Machu Picchu at Dawn, Hiking, Wildlife Near Puno, Cusco, Local Cuisine, Museums

Review by traveler

David W.

11.11.2019

General Info

Traveler Review

Which Country (Countries) did you visit on this trip?

Peru

Your overall comments on the trip and the travel company:

My wife and I just returned from our three-week trip in Peru arranged by this tour company. This is our fourth trip using Zicasso associated travel companies. The trip planners of this tour company arranged our hotels, transfers and tours specifically to our criteria. We prefer cultural activities and touring historic and archeological sites with knowledgeable guides, as well as comfortable, unique accommodations that are also relaxing. The company matched us perfectly to the activities we appreciate and, in particular, to guides who were enthusiastic, understood what would interest us and who were able to openly share their cultural with us.
Most of the accommodations exceeded our expectations in terms of comfort and distinctiveness. All transfers were effortless allowing us to relax and focus on enjoying Peru rather than worry about how we would negotiate getting from one point to another. The company was always available via email or phone to answer questions or for any need.
The quality of a travel company is made evident when challenges occur. Our trip had included several days in Bolivia. We were contacted a day before by the tour company who informed us that the political situation in Bolivia had made a turn for the worst and it would not be safe to travel to most parts of the country. They offered to change our itinerary to visit either safer areas in Bolivia or to see other areas of Peru not originally planned for our trip. We opted for staying in Peru. We spent an additional two more enjoyable days in Cusco and then traveled by plane to Lake Titicaca to fill our remaining tour days. The hotel, tours, guides and meals were on par with the earlier parts of our trip. It was clear that this company gave thoughtful consideration to making this change to our itinerary as enjoyable as possible. They must have worked around the clock to make new arrangements for hotels, transfers and guides, but it seemed effortless to us.
In addition, we were refunded a portion of the cost of our trip to Bolivia. I had expected to pay more given all the changes that occurred.

What were the most enjoyable or memorable parts of your trip?

The archeological resources of Peru are, of course, something one will never forget. The most famous, Machu Picchu, is impressive, but so are many, many others. I will never forget the craftsmanship of the stone masonry in Peru.
We had one guide for five days, who was an absolute delight. After many trips outside of the U.S., we have found that the most rewarding aspect of travel for us is meeting and developing relationships with guides who share their culture with us. Each of the guides on this trip were wonderful people to be with.
My wife was not up for a three or four day Inca Trail hike, so I did a one day Inca Trail hike with our guide. We met her late in the day at the hotel which is the only hotel situated outside the gate to Machu Picchu. The train to Machu Picchu makes one stop before reaching the train station at Aguas Calientes. We got off at this stop and hiked into Machu Picchu ending through the Sun Gate which was a magical journey. The hotel is expensive, but staying there gave me the opportunity to enter Machu Picchu at 6:00 AM the following day when it is covered in fog that slowly lifts revealing the ruins.
Near Puno there is an archeological site located on a hill above a large lake. The company arranged for a local lady to row us and our guide across this lake to an island where we were able to hike and see an abundance of wildlife including a herd of vicuna as well as chinchillas and even an eagle. We then rowed to the archeological site and after this visit had lunch at a local restaurant run by a family with excellent local fish as our main dish.
Cusco is a wonderful city to spend time with fine restaurants that are not necessarily expensive. The food scene is quite well-developed in terms of variety and organic ingredients. There are several good museums in the city with day trips to archeological sites and churches with murals that are definitely worth a visit. We spent a morning with the son and grandson of a famous Cusco photographer touring the city. Their insights into the changes that had occurred in their City were fascinating.

If you could take your trip again, what would you do differently?

There really was not anything we would have done differently. There is a wonderful museum in Lima, Museo Larco. If you are able to visit, plan for at least a half a day and have lunch at the museum. The collection of Pre-Columbian art is impressive and the museum, as well as the exhibits, are beautifully designed. It is a world class museum worthy of a long visit.
Lima is quite crowded and the traffic makes getting around difficult. Plan time there carefully. It's probably feasible to only see two sites in a day without being caught with insufficient time.

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Peru & Bolivia Travel Review: Archeological Sites, Machu Picchu at Dawn, Hiking, Wildlife Near Puno, Cusco, Local Cuisine, Museums

General Info

Which Country (Countries) did you visit on this trip?

Your overall comments on the trip and the travel company:

What were the most enjoyable or memorable parts of your trip?

If you could take your trip again, what would you do differently?

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