Peru – Adult only 20 – 29 Sept 2016 Trip report
- Thread starter RebelHawk
- Start date
RebelHawk
42
- Joined
- Aug 13, 2004
Day 6 – Cusco
This morning was a travel day as we left for Cusco. This was a bit of a long bus ride and ABD did a great job of breaking up our trip with a couple of stops. Our first stop was at the Pisac market but before we stopped we were given some advice on how to haggle and how it was expected by the market owners. While we all had a great time doing a little shopping on our own we all really had a mission to accomplish, purchase a White Llama gift. What is a White Llama gift you ask? It’s just like the classic White Elephant gift exchange game but we are in Peru so of course it’s a Llama gift exchange instead of an Elephant exchange. We were also given a lot of lateral space of what to buy as this is an Adult only trip so the Disney reigns were removed and the expectations for some really off color gifts was high (and there were no disappointments). Our guides had a friendly shop that we all meet up at and got to enjoy a short tour in the shop showing us the process for creating some of their custom jewelry before being released on the market to go shopping.
Once our mission was complete we all boarded our favorite buses and headed back on the road. With lots of discussions around the infamous Peruvian dish, Cuy, we were promised by our guides that we would be on the lookout for a roadside stand. The Disney Magic didn’t let down on this endeavor either. Not long after we left the Pisac market we pulled over in another village where we found a local preparing this particular delicacy, the Peruvian guinea pig. I did ask about the safety of actually eating one of these roadside snacks and was advised that it would be eating street food without the American safety standards. After a quick discussion we did decide not to risk Montezuma Revenge but paused for this quick photo opportunity.
Back on the road we headed to our final stop before reaching Cusco, the Awana Kancha Camelids Center. Rudy gave us a great overview of the differences and history between the different varieties of Llamas and Alpacas before giving fantastic instructions on how to take a “Llama Selfie”. We then headed into the farm where we got to visit with all of the varieties we had just learned about.
After a quick pause to regroup we headed into the gift shop onsite where I was finally able to complete my secondary mission for this trip, purchase an Alpaca sweater and a few scarves to bring back home.
This was our final stop before we reached Cusco where we had left our buses behind for a short walk to our lunch stop at Plaza de Armas for lunch.
Being well fed (again) we headed out for our historical hotel Palacio del Inka. Starting as a monastery before being converted by Francisco Pizarro into his personal mansion and finally as a stunning hotel. Make sure you do more than move from your room to the restaurant and back to the lobby. This place is a true piece of history showcasing portions of the hotel that were originally built hundreds of years ago. The art hanging on the wall will take an entire afternoon to truly appreciate alone, they also have a great bar so don’t miss that! After soaking up the local culture for the past 6 days my wife and I decided to take a quick emersion break and do something 100% touristy. We popped into the highest elevation Irish Pub in the world for a pint. If you stop in don’t expect much other than a tourist trap. They had exactly one Irish beer and it wasn’t even on tap but was in a can. We still enjoyed this little diversion and took accepted it for what it was. After this we headed back into the side streets of Cusco and got completely lost and loved every second of it, what a beautiful city. Wiped out it was time to head back to the hotel as the next day was going to be another exciting day.
This morning was a travel day as we left for Cusco. This was a bit of a long bus ride and ABD did a great job of breaking up our trip with a couple of stops. Our first stop was at the Pisac market but before we stopped we were given some advice on how to haggle and how it was expected by the market owners. While we all had a great time doing a little shopping on our own we all really had a mission to accomplish, purchase a White Llama gift. What is a White Llama gift you ask? It’s just like the classic White Elephant gift exchange game but we are in Peru so of course it’s a Llama gift exchange instead of an Elephant exchange. We were also given a lot of lateral space of what to buy as this is an Adult only trip so the Disney reigns were removed and the expectations for some really off color gifts was high (and there were no disappointments). Our guides had a friendly shop that we all meet up at and got to enjoy a short tour in the shop showing us the process for creating some of their custom jewelry before being released on the market to go shopping.
Once our mission was complete we all boarded our favorite buses and headed back on the road. With lots of discussions around the infamous Peruvian dish, Cuy, we were promised by our guides that we would be on the lookout for a roadside stand. The Disney Magic didn’t let down on this endeavor either. Not long after we left the Pisac market we pulled over in another village where we found a local preparing this particular delicacy, the Peruvian guinea pig. I did ask about the safety of actually eating one of these roadside snacks and was advised that it would be eating street food without the American safety standards. After a quick discussion we did decide not to risk Montezuma Revenge but paused for this quick photo opportunity.
Back on the road we headed to our final stop before reaching Cusco, the Awana Kancha Camelids Center. Rudy gave us a great overview of the differences and history between the different varieties of Llamas and Alpacas before giving fantastic instructions on how to take a “Llama Selfie”. We then headed into the farm where we got to visit with all of the varieties we had just learned about.
After a quick pause to regroup we headed into the gift shop onsite where I was finally able to complete my secondary mission for this trip, purchase an Alpaca sweater and a few scarves to bring back home.
This was our final stop before we reached Cusco where we had left our buses behind for a short walk to our lunch stop at Plaza de Armas for lunch.
Being well fed (again) we headed out for our historical hotel Palacio del Inka. Starting as a monastery before being converted by Francisco Pizarro into his personal mansion and finally as a stunning hotel. Make sure you do more than move from your room to the restaurant and back to the lobby. This place is a true piece of history showcasing portions of the hotel that were originally built hundreds of years ago. The art hanging on the wall will take an entire afternoon to truly appreciate alone, they also have a great bar so don’t miss that! After soaking up the local culture for the past 6 days my wife and I decided to take a quick emersion break and do something 100% touristy. We popped into the highest elevation Irish Pub in the world for a pint. If you stop in don’t expect much other than a tourist trap. They had exactly one Irish beer and it wasn’t even on tap but was in a can. We still enjoyed this little diversion and took accepted it for what it was. After this we headed back into the side streets of Cusco and got completely lost and loved every second of it, what a beautiful city. Wiped out it was time to head back to the hotel as the next day was going to be another exciting day.
Last edited:
RebelHawk
42
- Joined
- Aug 13, 2004
I'd have skipped the roadside cuy, too!We need to see photos of the Alpaca purchases you made!
Sayhello
We picked up a half zip pullover for myself and two scarves for my wife and I. After searching every alpaca store we could find my wife hadn't found her sweater/jacket yet. On the last day flying out of Cusco she found what she wanted at the airport of all places. She paid a little bit more for it but was happy with the purchase of her long turtle neck sweater. We also purchased an additional baby alpaca scarf and an alpaca purse for a friend that was already delivered so no photo of those. The prices that we paid US $ for these for future reference of travelers was $35 for the scarves and the sweaters were $145 - $175. These things are so soft and we can't wait to get to some colder weather to wear them.
Last edited:
RebelHawk
42
- Joined
- Aug 13, 2004
Day 7 – Cusco
After a wonderful night at the Palacio del Inka hotel we enjoyed breakfast and it was off to the ruins of Sacsayhuaman just outside of Cusco. Again we received a wonderful explanation of the history from the area as we explored the ruins. These massive stones were moved from a distant quarry just staggers the mind of how they were manhandled across the landscape before being erected at this site. Add to that the precision of assembling this staggering set of ruins is awe inspiring. With plenty of photos ops we explored the ruins until late morning when we boarded our bus and headed to another nearby site.
At this point our group split up with one group hiking down the Inca Trail back into Cusco and the others remaining on the bus and heading back into town. With Rudy as our guide we set off for a short hike back into town. With more photos and additional insight into the Incan people we finally arrived back in Cusco where we ran into a group of Police officers. With a quick introduction and some fast talking while our group was relaxing Rudy decided to setup a staged photo op with me as the main character. Nothing like a mock arrest in a foreign country to get some laughs from the rest of our group.
After we regrouped with our fellow Adventures we had a short tour of Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption of the Virgin where we got to see the most interesting painting. The Last Super featuring Jesus and his Disciples enjoying cuy.
With the rest of the afternoon free we headed off to one of the recommended activity, a Chocolate Workshop. After learning the history of Peruvian chocolate and sampling many offerings we were able to make our own treats to take away.
After a quick nap we all met back up for our final dinner together and enjoy our White Llama gift exchange. Back to the difference of an Adult trip verses a family some of the gifts of the gift exchange game had a some very non-Disney items. Talk about a fun and exciting game, we were all cheering, laughing and stealing gifts for the rest of the night. What a great group of people that we were able to enjoy our trip with.
After dinner it was off to the bar to enjoy our last night with some of these wonderful people and then bed.
After a wonderful night at the Palacio del Inka hotel we enjoyed breakfast and it was off to the ruins of Sacsayhuaman just outside of Cusco. Again we received a wonderful explanation of the history from the area as we explored the ruins. These massive stones were moved from a distant quarry just staggers the mind of how they were manhandled across the landscape before being erected at this site. Add to that the precision of assembling this staggering set of ruins is awe inspiring. With plenty of photos ops we explored the ruins until late morning when we boarded our bus and headed to another nearby site.
At this point our group split up with one group hiking down the Inca Trail back into Cusco and the others remaining on the bus and heading back into town. With Rudy as our guide we set off for a short hike back into town. With more photos and additional insight into the Incan people we finally arrived back in Cusco where we ran into a group of Police officers. With a quick introduction and some fast talking while our group was relaxing Rudy decided to setup a staged photo op with me as the main character. Nothing like a mock arrest in a foreign country to get some laughs from the rest of our group.
After we regrouped with our fellow Adventures we had a short tour of Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption of the Virgin where we got to see the most interesting painting. The Last Super featuring Jesus and his Disciples enjoying cuy.
With the rest of the afternoon free we headed off to one of the recommended activity, a Chocolate Workshop. After learning the history of Peruvian chocolate and sampling many offerings we were able to make our own treats to take away.
After a quick nap we all met back up for our final dinner together and enjoy our White Llama gift exchange. Back to the difference of an Adult trip verses a family some of the gifts of the gift exchange game had a some very non-Disney items. Talk about a fun and exciting game, we were all cheering, laughing and stealing gifts for the rest of the night. What a great group of people that we were able to enjoy our trip with.
After dinner it was off to the bar to enjoy our last night with some of these wonderful people and then bed.
RebelHawk
42
- Joined
- Aug 13, 2004
Day 8 & 9 – Home & Thoughts
This morning was a late departure and we were all thankful for it. After breakfast we met back in the hotel lobby to gather our carry-on items for our flight back to Lima. Once we boarded our bus we found out that our original flight had been canceled and we had all been rebooked on another flight. This is one of those times where you realize that the extra money you pay for ABD is worth it. This was a major headache that was sprinkled with fairy dust and made to go away before we even realized it was a problem. We had a little bit longer layover at the airport but as I mentioned this allowed my wife to find that perfect alpaca sweater that she hadn’t been able to find the entire trip. Needless to say we were all exhausted from this long and very active trip. Aaron, if you end up reading this I hope you don’t mind me using your picture from the airport as a perfect summary.
After an uneventful flight back to Lima we boarded our coach and headed into town where we had a tremendous lunch at the stunning Casa Aliaga. Once lunch was completed we were escorted into one of the interior rooms where a projector was setup for us to enjoy a wonderful slideshow of our trip.
Afterwards it was off to the hotel and final farewells to our guides and travel companions for the past 8 days. Well, we had the official good byes and then a bunch of us found the bar and tucked in for few hours before heading to the airport for our 1AM departing flight.
This unbelievable trip couldn’t have happened if it weren’t for our wonderful ABD guides Zoe and Rudy. If you guys happen across this trip report I wanted to make sure you know that we are so thankful for the effort, support, friendship, education and general herding of cats that you must do trip after trip. While the destinations are the reasons we all go on these trips the ABD guides make it happen. Thank you!
Now that we are home and going through our 1000+ photos we are thinking back on some of our trip and have some suggestions for those that may go on future trips to Peru.
· Listen to your guides for suggestions on what to wear at different destinations. Many of us that didn’t wear long sleeve shirts to Machu Picchu and were eaten alive by unseen bugs.
· Pick up some walking around money from your bank before you leave for Peru or hit up one of the recommended ATMs when you first arrive. You have much more bargaining power with vendors with cash instead of credit cards.
· Ignore whatever the weather reports are. I think we had one day where what was actually predicted happened.
· Get lost in the cities when you have on your own time. The best places are off the beaten path.
· Trust in your guides as they know what and where to go.
· Keep in mind that if something does go wrong your guides are under more stress then you are and they aren’t allowed to show it.
· More importantly than anything tip your ABD guides well, they deserve it for all the reasons that you know and don’t know about!
This morning was a late departure and we were all thankful for it. After breakfast we met back in the hotel lobby to gather our carry-on items for our flight back to Lima. Once we boarded our bus we found out that our original flight had been canceled and we had all been rebooked on another flight. This is one of those times where you realize that the extra money you pay for ABD is worth it. This was a major headache that was sprinkled with fairy dust and made to go away before we even realized it was a problem. We had a little bit longer layover at the airport but as I mentioned this allowed my wife to find that perfect alpaca sweater that she hadn’t been able to find the entire trip. Needless to say we were all exhausted from this long and very active trip. Aaron, if you end up reading this I hope you don’t mind me using your picture from the airport as a perfect summary.
After an uneventful flight back to Lima we boarded our coach and headed into town where we had a tremendous lunch at the stunning Casa Aliaga. Once lunch was completed we were escorted into one of the interior rooms where a projector was setup for us to enjoy a wonderful slideshow of our trip.
Afterwards it was off to the hotel and final farewells to our guides and travel companions for the past 8 days. Well, we had the official good byes and then a bunch of us found the bar and tucked in for few hours before heading to the airport for our 1AM departing flight.
This unbelievable trip couldn’t have happened if it weren’t for our wonderful ABD guides Zoe and Rudy. If you guys happen across this trip report I wanted to make sure you know that we are so thankful for the effort, support, friendship, education and general herding of cats that you must do trip after trip. While the destinations are the reasons we all go on these trips the ABD guides make it happen. Thank you!
Now that we are home and going through our 1000+ photos we are thinking back on some of our trip and have some suggestions for those that may go on future trips to Peru.
· Listen to your guides for suggestions on what to wear at different destinations. Many of us that didn’t wear long sleeve shirts to Machu Picchu and were eaten alive by unseen bugs.
· Pick up some walking around money from your bank before you leave for Peru or hit up one of the recommended ATMs when you first arrive. You have much more bargaining power with vendors with cash instead of credit cards.
· Ignore whatever the weather reports are. I think we had one day where what was actually predicted happened.
· Get lost in the cities when you have on your own time. The best places are off the beaten path.
· Trust in your guides as they know what and where to go.
· Keep in mind that if something does go wrong your guides are under more stress then you are and they aren’t allowed to show it.
· More importantly than anything tip your ABD guides well, they deserve it for all the reasons that you know and don’t know about!
BluesTraveler
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Jul 23, 2015
Thank you for the great trip report! Have enjoyed it.
RebelHawk
42
- Joined
- Aug 13, 2004
Oh I feel like I should add one final note since altitude sickness and drinking the water are certainly real considerations for the trip. The ABD guides of course do not share the details of who is under the weather and exactly what their symptoms are but talking with our group we did get hit with some issues. On day one we did have one of our younger and more fit people get hit with altitude sickness and needed oxygen a few times that I saw. She was able to recover and by the fourth day and from there on was able to join us for everything. Personally I felt the altitude change when we arrived in Cusco. I was short of breath and a bit cognitively challenged, but some would say I'm that way regardless of the altitude. But after sleeping overnight I woke up the next day adjusted and I arose to every challenge but the white water rafting due to my broken foot issue.
We also had three people that were hit with lower gastrointestinal issues. This laid them out from one to two days from various activities. The guides do recommend that you do not drink the water, order any drinks with ice and use bottled water when brushing your teeth. Of course I had many old fashions with ice and watched the bartenders rinse our glasses with water or chill them with ice many times. There were also a few times I forgot about the tooth brush/bottle water combo and just rinsed directly in the sink so YMMV (Your Milage May Vary) because I never got sick. I did however never drink anything except bottled water provided by the hotels or the ABD guides.
All I can say if these are real concerns holding anyone back from this trip then I would suggest packing plenty of Imodium and hit up your family Dr and get some altitude sickness pills as a backup. This was just a tremendous trip and although this was our first we are already talking with our TA about booking a second ABD trip sooner than later.
We also had three people that were hit with lower gastrointestinal issues. This laid them out from one to two days from various activities. The guides do recommend that you do not drink the water, order any drinks with ice and use bottled water when brushing your teeth. Of course I had many old fashions with ice and watched the bartenders rinse our glasses with water or chill them with ice many times. There were also a few times I forgot about the tooth brush/bottle water combo and just rinsed directly in the sink so YMMV (Your Milage May Vary) because I never got sick. I did however never drink anything except bottled water provided by the hotels or the ABD guides.
All I can say if these are real concerns holding anyone back from this trip then I would suggest packing plenty of Imodium and hit up your family Dr and get some altitude sickness pills as a backup. This was just a tremendous trip and although this was our first we are already talking with our TA about booking a second ABD trip sooner than later.
Very funny. BTW your whole TR is funny and well written and kind of confirms the suspicion that this is might be the most physical ABD trip but also has a worthwhile payoff. ABD has been running the trip for so many years, they have probably seen it all and can handle most anything safety and comfort related. Adventure = good, misadventure not.
anonymousegirl
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- May 14, 2008
Love the hidden Mickey! Totally missed it when I was there.
acndis
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Aug 6, 2012
We just got back from this trip on 12/26. RebelHawk did an AMAZING trip report (that I used extensively) but I thought I would add a few thoughts based on the family version of the trip.
This trip is AMAZING! I know there have been different viewpoints about it on the boards but for us, it was absolutely perfect and may be our favorite (though I am starting to think the trip you just finished is always the favorite). Some things that make it stand out:
* This trip is more active than any of the others we have been on. This was perfect for our family. You are constantly visiting historical sites (the scenery is amazing) but there are no museum visits or estate tours. We have found that we prefer the more active itineraries. This truly fit the bill. The days in the Sacred Valley are almost exclusively hiking, climbing, or rafting. It was so much fun!
* The rafting. I know there have been concerns expressed about the river. It is brown (mostly due to mineral deposits) and it is highly recommended not to jump in and take a drink. Apparently, the wonderful guide, Chris Brown, did this and had bad results! That said, the rafting in Peru is one of the most enjoyable activities I have done on any ABD. The guides are fantastic and ours really got us going by letting my son sit up front and then took us over some Class III rapids. We had a wonderful time and it was our favorite activity of the trip. Our family did not jump in but only because the water is COLD. You have a full wet suit but I still had to pass on it! Several did jump in and there was no illness that I heard of. RebelHawk was right to sit out with his foot in a boot! It is rough and fun. For anyone else, who is interested, I would suggest not to miss it!
* This is a great trip for kids because of all the activities. Our JA group was tight knit and had a ball. My son made a very good friend who made his trip even more special. The kids really bonded and Alyssa and Harvey (our guides) were great with them. That said, the kids were (how to say it) VERY ENTHUSIASTIC (read LOUD and boisterous) throughout the trip. All the parents were good about trying to curb this as much as possible but I am not sure how much I would have loved it if I was traveling without kids. Our group had 37 adventurers so we were mostly on two small buses. My advice would be that unless you have kids, head for the bus with no kids!
* Optional activities--DO ALL OF THEM! The visit to the ceramics studio was amazing. We purchased a lamp and some other things and got to meet the artist. Harvey's tour of the cathedral in Cusco was fantastic. He gave so much insight into the Incas and Colonialism. It was fascinating. The hike to MoonGate as RebelHawk mentioned was great. We did not have an option for Sun Gate because so many in our group participated in the hike. We had lots of kids (including a 5 year old) who all made it. It's a great view and worth the climb.
* Extra Activities- We did a culinary tour on our pre-day in Lima with Lima Gourmet Company that was fantastic. There are no organized activities in Lima so I highly recommend doing this. You get to experience the city and the food is wonderful. My son also loved the tour and it is perfectly appropriate for kids who are open to trying new food. We also booked the Chocolate/Pottery Experience through the hotel in Cusco. It ended up to be about 20 of us from the ABD in the group. The company is Faces of Cusco and this is a blast. You make delicious chocolate candies and then can paint the bulls you see on all the rooftops of Peru. This was really, really fun and some of the group ranked it as their favorite activity.
* Our group was large at 37 but never felt too big. We had a wonderful group of great, interesting people that is so common with all the ABDs. There were lots of first time ABD'ers on this trip but they were open and game for anything. I usually hate the 'White Elephant or in the case of Peru White Llama' exchange but our group was so fun that we had some great laughs and it was very memorable.
* The altitude. I was fine the entire trip. You do get winded easily and really need to watch your alcohol and caffeine intake but I had no problems and neither did my husband. The kids were another story! My son was the first to get sick on the way down from the weaving demonstration. He complained of a headache at lunch and had oxygen there but ended up going downhill quick on the drive to Sol y Luna. Alyssa was great about getting him off the bus and acting quickly. He felt really awful but tried to go to the welcome dinner on Day 2 and was miserable until Harvey recommended he eat some plain rice. He felt better instantly and was fine the rest of the trip. I know it was the altitude that got him but it was made worse by the fact that he was sitting in the back of the bus and playing Ipad with the other kids. We banned screens on the bus after that and the kids sat closer to the front. Two other kids got sick and some adults were affected but no one missed any activity due to the altitude. If you are concerned about it, I would just let a guide know from the beginning. They can sit you in the front of the bus. Don't read or use a screen on the bus. Look out and listen to podcasts (I got a lot of time in)! Remember, you start as high as you are going to go. If you make it through Day 2, you will be fine!
This is a great, great trip! It should be on your list. I am happy to answer any other questions you might have.
This trip is AMAZING! I know there have been different viewpoints about it on the boards but for us, it was absolutely perfect and may be our favorite (though I am starting to think the trip you just finished is always the favorite). Some things that make it stand out:
* This trip is more active than any of the others we have been on. This was perfect for our family. You are constantly visiting historical sites (the scenery is amazing) but there are no museum visits or estate tours. We have found that we prefer the more active itineraries. This truly fit the bill. The days in the Sacred Valley are almost exclusively hiking, climbing, or rafting. It was so much fun!
* The rafting. I know there have been concerns expressed about the river. It is brown (mostly due to mineral deposits) and it is highly recommended not to jump in and take a drink. Apparently, the wonderful guide, Chris Brown, did this and had bad results! That said, the rafting in Peru is one of the most enjoyable activities I have done on any ABD. The guides are fantastic and ours really got us going by letting my son sit up front and then took us over some Class III rapids. We had a wonderful time and it was our favorite activity of the trip. Our family did not jump in but only because the water is COLD. You have a full wet suit but I still had to pass on it! Several did jump in and there was no illness that I heard of. RebelHawk was right to sit out with his foot in a boot! It is rough and fun. For anyone else, who is interested, I would suggest not to miss it!
* This is a great trip for kids because of all the activities. Our JA group was tight knit and had a ball. My son made a very good friend who made his trip even more special. The kids really bonded and Alyssa and Harvey (our guides) were great with them. That said, the kids were (how to say it) VERY ENTHUSIASTIC (read LOUD and boisterous) throughout the trip. All the parents were good about trying to curb this as much as possible but I am not sure how much I would have loved it if I was traveling without kids. Our group had 37 adventurers so we were mostly on two small buses. My advice would be that unless you have kids, head for the bus with no kids!
* Optional activities--DO ALL OF THEM! The visit to the ceramics studio was amazing. We purchased a lamp and some other things and got to meet the artist. Harvey's tour of the cathedral in Cusco was fantastic. He gave so much insight into the Incas and Colonialism. It was fascinating. The hike to MoonGate as RebelHawk mentioned was great. We did not have an option for Sun Gate because so many in our group participated in the hike. We had lots of kids (including a 5 year old) who all made it. It's a great view and worth the climb.
* Extra Activities- We did a culinary tour on our pre-day in Lima with Lima Gourmet Company that was fantastic. There are no organized activities in Lima so I highly recommend doing this. You get to experience the city and the food is wonderful. My son also loved the tour and it is perfectly appropriate for kids who are open to trying new food. We also booked the Chocolate/Pottery Experience through the hotel in Cusco. It ended up to be about 20 of us from the ABD in the group. The company is Faces of Cusco and this is a blast. You make delicious chocolate candies and then can paint the bulls you see on all the rooftops of Peru. This was really, really fun and some of the group ranked it as their favorite activity.
* Our group was large at 37 but never felt too big. We had a wonderful group of great, interesting people that is so common with all the ABDs. There were lots of first time ABD'ers on this trip but they were open and game for anything. I usually hate the 'White Elephant or in the case of Peru White Llama' exchange but our group was so fun that we had some great laughs and it was very memorable.
* The altitude. I was fine the entire trip. You do get winded easily and really need to watch your alcohol and caffeine intake but I had no problems and neither did my husband. The kids were another story! My son was the first to get sick on the way down from the weaving demonstration. He complained of a headache at lunch and had oxygen there but ended up going downhill quick on the drive to Sol y Luna. Alyssa was great about getting him off the bus and acting quickly. He felt really awful but tried to go to the welcome dinner on Day 2 and was miserable until Harvey recommended he eat some plain rice. He felt better instantly and was fine the rest of the trip. I know it was the altitude that got him but it was made worse by the fact that he was sitting in the back of the bus and playing Ipad with the other kids. We banned screens on the bus after that and the kids sat closer to the front. Two other kids got sick and some adults were affected but no one missed any activity due to the altitude. If you are concerned about it, I would just let a guide know from the beginning. They can sit you in the front of the bus. Don't read or use a screen on the bus. Look out and listen to podcasts (I got a lot of time in)! Remember, you start as high as you are going to go. If you make it through Day 2, you will be fine!
This is a great, great trip! It should be on your list. I am happy to answer any other questions you might have.
CaliforniaGirl09
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Dec 4, 2009
Thank you both for doing the initial trip report and acndis's follow up. This trip has been on my list for a while, and I love hearing the positive feedback. I suspect if it's just my daughter and I that we'll do a tour that hikes the Inca trail, but if my son and husband go we'll do Disney.
acndis
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Aug 6, 2012
CaliforniaGirl09:
Hiking the Inca Trail looked amazing and very tempting. Harvey, our guide, used to guide that 4-day trip as well. It would be an unforgettable experience.
I noticed most the tour companies on this board have pretty similar itineraries (in fact, we met some other people from other groups at Sol y Luna). The kid factor tipped the ABD itinerary in our favor. We were lucky to have a bunch of great Juniors that we probably wouldn't have gotten with other companies so I think your thinking is right on if your son goes with you!
Hiking the Inca Trail looked amazing and very tempting. Harvey, our guide, used to guide that 4-day trip as well. It would be an unforgettable experience.
I noticed most the tour companies on this board have pretty similar itineraries (in fact, we met some other people from other groups at Sol y Luna). The kid factor tipped the ABD itinerary in our favor. We were lucky to have a bunch of great Juniors that we probably wouldn't have gotten with other companies so I think your thinking is right on if your son goes with you!
CaliforniaGirl09
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Dec 4, 2009
I've heard amazing things about the inca trail, including that it's really tough, lol, but I'm dying to do it. My son would definitely not be up for it though! I was looking at the rei tour, which sounded like one of the best for the inca trail, but defitely still a lot more "rustic" than ABD. Let's jus say the poop tents on the rei trip will take a little selling to dd!
aboveH20
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Feb 9, 2010
I've sorta skimmed your report because I didn't want to get too drawn in if your answer to my question is no.
I'm not old, but I've thought of going to Peru for close to 50 years.
Gee, maybe I am old. My best friend in high school was a foreign exchange student in Peru and died in a plane crash there the summer after our sophomore year. My question is, would a white haired (but not old 
) woman feel comfortable alone on that ABD? I don't think my husband would be particularly interested in the trip.
Thanks -- and I didn't realize altitude was an issue.
I'm not old, but I've thought of going to Peru for close to 50 years.
Gee, maybe I am old. My best friend in high school was a foreign exchange student in Peru and died in a plane crash there the summer after our sophomore year. My question is, would a white haired (but not old ) woman feel comfortable alone on that ABD? I don't think my husband would be particularly interested in the trip.Thanks -- and I didn't realize altitude was an issue.
RebelHawk
42
- Joined
- Aug 13, 2004
I've sorta skimmed your report because I didn't want to get too drawn in if your answer to my question is no.
I'm not old, but I've thought of going to Peru for close to 50 years.
Thanks -- and I didn't realize altitude was an issue.
In Cusco there wasn't a single moment when my wife and I were out walking around at night that we didn't feel 100% safe. In Lima I don't think I would go out after dark for a walk but that is a big modern city with all the big modern city issues. We did still feel safe in Lima but we took the hotel offered car service from place to place. All of this being said unless you just want to go out on your own we traveled almost everywhere we went with someone from our group so were seldom alone. But to directly answer your questions, yes, if you're always being situational aware of your surrounds I would gladly send my own mother on this ABD trip all on her own and wouldn't feel the least bit concerned over her safety.
acndis
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Aug 6, 2012
My dad (73) went with his friend (68) and they had no trouble at all and LOVED the trip. They opted out of some of the hikes (and went to the spa--not bad!). ABD always has single travelers and I think you would feel more than comfortable. The others on the trip tend to embrace people on their own and invite them to dinner, etc. It's a great way to travel. If you have more specific questions, don't hesitate to ask. We felt incredibly safe everywhere and walked all around Lima on our own with our son. It's a very safe, friendly country from my perspective.I've sorta skimmed your report because I didn't want to get too drawn in if your answer to my question is no.
I'm not old, but I've thought of going to Peru for close to 50 years.
Thanks -- and I didn't realize altitude was an issue.
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