BootsnAll Travel Community

Ok here is the deal:

My wife and I (27)will be doing a RTW starting in June of 09'. We will be ending in SA in January. Her parents want to meet us and do both the galapagos and Machu Picchu. We like to do more adventurous and budget type travel with hiking, rafting, etc. They are looking for a much more comfortable and luxurious type of trip, with decent/good hotels, porter, showers, etc. A couple of questions regarding these two trips:

Machu Picchu:

1. Is the hike that much better than the train, etc.?

2. Is there a service that offers a hike to machu picchu but also offers porter,s, nice accomodations, and showers for her parents?

3. Is there any service that would let us use budget accommodations and let them have the more luxury, but still hike together, eat together, etc..?

4. What other things around this area are must sees? Lakes, valley of incas, etc...?

5. What is a good general price range for such trips?

6. Recommended companies?


Galapagos Islands?

1. Same questions as above?

2. Her parents don't want a cruise with a ton of passengers. What is the comfort level, or privacy difference between a 16 person and a 32 person cruise?

3. For people who might get a little seasick, what is better a sailboat type yacht or a motor type yacht?

4 Reccomended companies? Cruises?


Please feel free to give any advice or recommendations, thanks alot for your help. Stouds.

i don't think there are any stops along the way where you can take a shower on the inca trail. i'm not sure though.. we took the train, since we were pressed for time. it was a very boring 4, 5hrs. on top of that, they drop you off at the nearby town, from where you get on a bus to take you to the actual MP entrance. there's a crazy hotel right outside the MP entrance. can you arrange to have the parents train/bus to MP and stay at that hotel just in time for you to arrive after the long hike? or somehow rendezvous in the town? (sorry i always forget the name of the town.. it's something calientas)

Ok, I haven't done either, but I'm planning a galapagos trip, and have researched MP, so I may be able to add something.

Machu Picchu

Don't know if hiking is better. In the end, you'll see the same place, however, there are sites of interest along the way, and the hike is really more about the accomplishment than anything.

The Inca Trail tours all include porters. But it's camping, so no showers or nice hotels. However, people I've met who've done the trek claim the food was awesome, and that it was an unusually comfortable camping trip. Xoom's suggestion seems to make the most sense for your situation.

Galapagos:
I'm also a fan of small boats, so I'm looking pretty much exclusively at the 16 person ones. Comfort level is more a matter of the class of boat than the number of bunks. Budget boats don't have hot water or A/C. First class boats have all the luxuries. There's several in between classes.

In all cases, you'll have your own room, but none of the Galapagos cruise ships are large, so there won't be many other places to get some privacy. I don't think more passengers would improve that situation.

As for split options (cheap for you, pricey for the parents), I don't think that'll be possible with a cruise. I think your best bet is to talk with them, let them know what you've budgeted for that leg, and that if they want something nicer, they're going to have to cover the difference for all of you. I generally don't travel with other people, but I'm a firm believer that people shouldn't be forced to overspend their means to meet other people's expectations.

For companies, one of my girlfriend's ex-coworkers recommended Galapagos Moonrise, though I haven't been too impressed with their website (doesn't work very well). My own web hunting found me this site which seems to have some of the lowest prices I've seen so far. I can't speak for the quality of the agency though, as I'm not going until January, but it is the agency associated with a hotel that definitely exists (is listed in the LP), so I'm confident it's not a scam.

As for seasickness. Typically, a sailboat is going to sway more, as it's built to catch the wind, not to be stable. Also, if you're interested in it for the romance of sailing, know that commercial cruise boats are almost always engine driven, because they have a schedule to keep, even if there are masts and rigging. The other big thing to watch is going to be the size of boat (# of feet, not # of passengers), since larger boats are more stable. Still, if it's wavy, you'll probably have difficulty. Just try to get on deck when you can...seasickness is caused by the disconnect between the movement registered in your inner ear, and your eyes telling your brain that your not moving. Looking outside the boat helps, because your eyes also register that you're moving.

Your Machu Picchu questions:

1. The hike is a beautiful walk through the mountains and through high jungle. If you appreciate hiking elsewhere, you'll love the Inca Trail. And you really feel you've deserved the view when you finally arrive at the end of the trail and look down on Machu Picchu!

Even if you hike, you'll be on the train for most of the ride from Cuzco to the village in the canyon below Machu Picchu, and all of the ride back to Cuzco.

2. You'll have porters whether you want to or not. Accommodation is tents, and most of the time the conditions are basic. (There are sit-down toilets available at the camp sites, though.) The last night before Machu Picchu is spent at a camp site where there's actually a fairly nice restaurant and hot showers available. If you want to enjoy that, you'll pay extra for it when you arrive there.

3. No, I don't think so.

4. You can have other high-altitude adventures with more luxury elsewhere in Peru.

Visit the fascinating reed villages on Lake Titicaca from Puno. The train ride from Cuzco to Puno in nice weather is MUCH more interesting and beautiful (and long-lasting) than the Machu Picchu one.

Go to Arequipa and do a multi-day tour to the Colca Canyon from there. You'll be taken around in a car, and you'll drive across a mountain path that is at about 5000 metres, which works out to nearly a billion feet high, I think. There are hot springs to swim in, and they're actually kept nice and hygienic. And you'll see condors soaring above a valley that is deeper than both the Grand Canyon and the one at Machu Picchu.

5. Whatever you're prepared to spend.

6. Hopefully someone will give you updated answers. I can only say that SAS in Cuzco did an excellent job on my Inca Trail some years ago.

Happy trails!

Bjørn
http://bjornfree.com/

quote:

Originally posted by stouds:
Machu Picchu:

1. Is the hike that much better than the train, etc.?

2. Is there a service that offers a hike to machu picchu but also offers porter,s, nice accomodations, and showers for her parents?

3. Is there any service that would let us use budget accommodations and let them have the more luxury, but still hike together, eat together, etc..?

It sounds like the parents are asking for scrambled eggs, with the egg shells unbroken.
In my opinion that's not possible, and people like them can be a real pain. They can spoil it for you and themselves.
My suggestion is to split - you do the hike and the parents go by train three days later, so that you meet in Aguas Calientes and visit Machu Picchu together. You might also need to agree with them beforehand, that they won't climb Huayna Picchu (the sister mountain). That would probably be too challenging for them.
In short, don't stick together all the time. Instead, make arrangements when and where you meet, and the things you do together.

For the trail, you might like to look at alternative trails. Salkantay and Lares are most popular. My personal opinion is that Salkantay is best. It's less popular as it's twice as long as Inca trail, and 5 days instead of 4.
There are also longer and shorter versions, less popular though.

To do or not to do the hike - it's at least half of the fun of what visitng Machu Picchu is about.

I should add that the trails I mentioned also end up at Aguas Calientes and Machu Picchu.
On Salkantay trail there are pack horses used. I found it more more appealing than using porters.

Thanks for the info guys. One of the reasons we are trying to stick with her parents is they will be covering some of our share of the $$$$ if we are with them, and I am sure we will need that. Here is a response email I got from an agency and some of it seems to contradict a little. Let me know if you guys have heard of the agency, or what you think about their response. Thanks again for the help!



1. We want to do the hike to Machu Picchu as we have heard that is a better experience than the train, etc. Do you offer a hike that has accomadations that would fit our parents needs, but still allows us some hiking?


Yes we do Amazing Peru is proud to offer a unique and unforgettable journey through myths and legends to the very heart of the lost city of the Incas. Our programme is a very special, all-inclusive tour incorporating ample acclimatization in Cuzco whilst staying at the very best hotels in the ancient capital of the Incas.

All meals, the luxury Hiram Bingham train and first class domestic flights are all part of the package. The tour also includes the arduous but extraordinary four day Inca Trail trek to Machu Picchu , albeit in luxurious fashion. This trip offers a unique perspective for healthy individuals with a longing for a different and altogether spiritual experience.

Our unparalleled services include accommodation at deluxe hotels in the cities; all a la carte meals at internationally recognized restaurants, all private tours with all entrance tickets, all private transfers, free massage service in all your hotels, access to the VIP lounge at Lima airport prior to your return flight home, a session of yoga to help prepare for the four day Inca Trail;

portable warm showers; two portable chemical toilets; daily massages on the trek from your very own masseuse to help ease away the muscle aches of each day; fine wine and superb cuisine everyday of the trek; experienced Quechua porters and musicians who have special knowledge of the ancient Andean legends; the very best English-speaking guides and an esoteric Shamanic guide for the final tour around Machu Picchu. All of this with the finest imported trekking equipment utilizing quality mattresses, comfortable sleeping bags and oversized tents.



We usually recommend that you would have few days for acclimatise to the high altitude in Cusco and in those days you would have the chance to see the city of Cusco and the sacred valley as a part of your acclimatizing in this venue.



2. What other tours around the area offer adventure, and can accomodate our parents needs as well as ours? Lake Titicaca , other hikes, etc...


If you are looking for some adventure I will definitely recommend the jungle lodge is a type of “survivor” experience but with out the camping, you would stay in hotel 4 star accommodations but obviously with understanding that is in the jungle and its limitations. Lake Titicaca offers mainly some kayaking



3. What are your prices?

The price of just the luxury Inca trail per person is about $1900, please be aware the this prices are for 2009 and for 2010 it may increase just a bit, also we just don´t do the Inca trail itself because we highly suggest that you would have at least a couple day before to acclimatise to the high altitude(specially your parents)



4. How flexible are the trips? Can we add in adventure tours if we want?

There is some flexibility for the trips, if you coming from the States you would probably arrive late in the evening into Lima and then the following morning fly to Cusco, do a couple days in Cusco(city tour and the sacred valley) and then you would start the trail and then you can add on either the jungle tour or the lake Titicaca one.



5. Is it possible to have one part of the group(us) stay in lesser

Accommodation (budget) and have the other two(parents) stay in nicer accommodations(luxury)?

Yes, it is possible, just the trail will be the same for all of you guys, the accommodations in hotels can be different.

Weeeell... I wouldn't say there are any contradictions here, it's just that the guys at "Amazing Peru" seems to be offering a service that none of us have heard of before.

So it seems that there's actually a way to do the Inca Trail in some comfort. While "normal" tours have porters that carry tents and cooking facilities, this tour must involve a number of more people. You still sleep in tents, but there's a masseur (I really doubt it's a masseuse) available, and the mattresses are more comfortable (and no doubt heavier). Also, the company seems to think it's a good idea to carry around portable toilets, and since they're already carrying a lot of stuff, they even carry the stuff they need to be able to offer hot showers in the evenings. Presumably that's just some kind of cabinet into which they can pour a bucket of hot water and make it rain down on you at a suitable temperature.

At the price they quote, you certainly should expect to be practically carried through the Inca Trail. #8D) Brace yourselves for a lot of envious/evil looks from the other hikers!

About the jungle lodge, I would check if it involves a flight to Puerto Maldonado, almost at the border to Brazil. That'll be a real rainforest experience for you, and it usually is a bit expensive, and can be done "better" elsewhere (statistically you'll see more in the "proper" Amazonas jungle, but you may be lucky and see lots of wildlife even in Peru).

I hope you'll be able to hear some of their customers' feedback before you book with them!

Bjørn
http://bjornfree.com/

LOL. It does sound a little over the top doesn't it. This would strictly be for her parents and not us. We are all about roughing it, and could care less about the shower, bed, etc... How much is a budget MP trip compared to this? Also I doubt her folks will be into the jungle trip, so we will likely hit that up in Brazil on our way up.

I doubt you'll get any feedback on the luxurious version of Inca trail.
The going price, if you book from home, is around US$ 400. That's for the most popular, albeit touristy, classic Inca trail, which has to be booked months in advance. I did Salkantay trail last Oct which I booked after I arrived to Cusco, and got a bargain price which was less than half of it.

I really don't think your parents can do the trail, no matter what the elevated comforts are. It takes a few days, and there is the wet season to watch out for. And the altitude is something to consider even if you are acclimated, (for your parents, not you, as I can imagine you will endure many things they could not) You can get a good train ride with the Vista Dome train, I think that is what it is called. I would not call it boring at all, and the train with those vista windows above the regular windows are amazing. The valleys are truely beautiful and you will end up in Aquas Caliente. I am sure there are hotels there more upscale than the hostels we stayed in. The hotel up at the ruins is over the top, very expensive, but you are allowed more access as they have privileges to enter before the general public. They also have oxygen pumped into the rooms. Or is that just a rumor. It is only 8800 feet or so at the ruins, so really
Cuzco is a lot higher. Again, the peak you see in all the pics is a must, behind the ruins and your parents can wait in the ruins somewhere, it only takes a couple hours. Another great trail is across the valley from the ruins, up a trail to even a higher peak where you can look down on the ruins. You catch that trail head by walking along the train tracks from the town Aquas Caliente and it starts with a "P" I think. That is a scary climb if you have height issues like me, as some of the trail consists of ladders, some that are over 100 ft., but the view at the top is something you will never experience anywhere. Mainly, because when we went, there were only 5 other people on the trail that day. A crazy Cuban, his noisy Frenchman friend, a young peruvian soccer player and a couple from Minnesota. It was great. Again, your parents can relax at the town at one of the many grill restaurants. Get ready to try guinea pig!

I am going to concur with pretty much everything uspn has said.

I would like to highlight that the Inca trail is very much worth it. I personalize despise any packaged trek, however, the view of Machu Pichu at sunrise from the trail makes it worthwhile. Plus, you will be there early before the crowds.

I would meet your parents at Machu Pichu itself or Aguas Calientes afterwards. I would not meet them at Aguas Calientes before visiting Machu Pichu.

Machu Picchu is a tough one since both groups have completely different ideas of what type of travel they would like. The keeper of the cash may win.

I'd go with the suggestion to split up if you can manage without insulting the parents.

The Galapagos is much easier to make everyone happy. I say the small boat is better--much more chill, more face time with your guide, and possibly more shore time since you are not going out in multiple groups. Your guide will make the trip since you are always with them. The islands are pretty well protected and you can't just go hiking off on your own for the most part.

I get motion sick pretty easily too and tried using prescription patches--fantastic! Get your doc to hook you up before you go. I think a catamaran is more smooth than a single hull boat as well.

You will save big bucks booking a last minute deal from Quito. We had great success (no hard selling) with CarpeDM Adventuresinside the Secret Garden Hostel in the old town section of Quito. Don't stay at the hostel unless you like partying and drunks outside your door at 4 am. You might but the in-laws... well, I don't know them.

Figure $500 just to get the islands--$400 (it's fixed, don't bother) for airfare from Quito and $100 for the park entry fee. Then the boat... depends. You can probably land a last minute deal on a first class boat for $1000 to $1500 pp.

Expensive but you will have the time of your life in the Galapagos. Some pics from our trip here if you are interested.

Have a blast!