Anybody been to Machu Piccu? - Page 2 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

t walgamuth · #16 01-06-2015, 07:06 PM

I found some excellent personal experiences on the web today about driving in Peru. The trip from Nazca to Cuzco is 350 miles and takes 10 hours by car. I am now thinking of driving one way from Cuzco to Lima or vice versa and flying the other direction. The road apparently does go up to nearly 15,000 feet but driving up sounds to be less a problem for altitude sickness than sleeping in it at 11,000.

Several people took a bus on this route and liked the experience. One group drove.

Another possibility is flying to Cuzco and renting a car for the sacred valley and to go to Titicaca and Macchupicchu.

Does AAA motorclub help arrange such things? If so how much do they charge for it?

oldsinner111 · #17 01-08-2015, 01:41 PM

I'd love to drive from Nogales Mexico.

ashedd · #18 01-09-2015, 11:40 AM

I'm going to Machu Piccu next month. My spouse is a Peruvian of Inca decent, rain might be an issue however. We are taking a train I guess.

t walgamuth · #19 01-09-2015, 11:44 AM

We are talking of March 20 thru 29. Time is getting short for our planning and my kids aren't responding to my requests for discussion of plans.

t walgamuth · #20 03-19-2015, 01:30 PM

We figured it all out. We are in Lima today. Got in at 5 am. Its up in the 80s and humid and the lovely little bed and breakfast has no ac....yikes! We´ll fool around Lima today and tomorrow and on saturday we´ll head down the coast on the carrera panamerica and see the nazca lines. Next day after that we´ll fly over to Cuzco to see Macchu pichu.

SwampYankee · #21 03-20-2015, 08:08 AM

Awesome! Looking forward to your travelogue.

Jim B. · #22 03-20-2015, 10:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by t walgamuth

We figured it all out. We are in Lima today. Got in at 5 am. Its up in the 80s and humid and the lovely little bed and breakfast has no ac....yikes! We´ll fool around Lima today and tomorrow and on saturday we´ll head down the coast on the carrera panamerica and see the nazca lines. Next day after that we´ll fly over to Cuzco to see Macchu pichu.

Tom ! Havve a great trip! I have done this back in the late 90s, but drove the Panamerica to the Nazca lines in a nice 1966 Olds f85 Sedan taxicab, powered by a Nissan diesel engine, all day trip booked in a travel agency in Miraflores, but you may get a really worn out Kias with for tires bald as eggs or a or maybe a 1970,s collectivtivo Dodge Coronet (completely knocked down "CKD") fom a plant in Lima that used to assemble them ie with Peruvian tires, batteries, glass for Peruvian content,) '84-85 Toyota minivan that failed safety checks in NJ, shipped to Lima via Miami, etc., err, it's pretty much luck of the draw. [I] guess there are finally flights now from Cusco, hey fought against it for years from Jorge Chavez intl from Lima, as they took away from tourist trade to Macchu.

Today tour th Gold Museum in Monterrico and the Mall at Jockey Plaza in San Ysidro, quickly if time, shopping fantastic, cc usually accepted. Cuban good cigars are great gifts, get a few montechristo #1s from @ any farmacia, colorful Peruvian blankets beautiful and cheap...

take the avenida Arequipa kombi bus to presidential palace worth it, great food all over --- but buy bottled water

have fun, Tomas! look for "milky" chocolate bars, best in Peru, not even exported! 18k jewelry great quality in Miraflores, nice prices usually but bargain, too ------ for it, at the jewelry stores! are they called joyerias, I think?

Jim

Ride to Ica via Lima ought to be uneventful. about 10 - 15 minute flights by Cessna 172s over Nazca lines no waiting, about $129 bucks...

Jim B. · #23 03-20-2015, 10:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by oldsinner111

I'd love to drive from Nogales Mexico.

I'd advise you NEVER to drive to Peru from Mexico, as first of all you lose up to a month getting over customs, Panama canal to Quito, by finally putting the car in a container if you can I have a blog about a guy who did though, in a 1980 300SD w116,incredible story, made it to Argentina, finished on a tow rope!! ask me for the link to the blog! pics too! Another guy I know, tried this in an '83 300td wagon, but wrecked/aborted when a big rig passed/clipped him and his TD rolled., when hit, in Colombia, , I can find that blog for you/pic's too.You can try but I for sure, would never, never would, attempt that caper by auto, but goodluck though.c

Jim B. · #24 03-20-2015, 10:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by t walgamuth

I found some excellent personal experiences on the web today about driving in Peru. The trip from Nazca to Cuzco is 350 miles and takes 10 hours by car. I am now thinking of driving one way from Cuzco to Lima or vice versa and flying the other direction. The road apparently does go up to nearly 15,000 feet but driving up sounds to be less a problem for altitude sickness than sleeping in it at 11,000.

Several people took a bus on this route and liked the experience. One group drove.

Another possibility is flying to Cuzco and renting a car for the sacred valley and to go to Titicaca and Macchupicchu.

Does AAA motorclub help arrange such things? If so how much do they charge for it?

Tom there the AAA of Peru in Lima called the AUTOMOVIL y TOURING cLUB DEL Peru, I BELIEVE with an office in LIMA, IF YOU GO 'D LIKE YOU TO GET a FREE WINDSHIELD DECAL, or 2,for me if you can; II USED TO HAVE ONE ON MY Volvo, you could have a local travel agency help you but I suggest a taxi driver be hired with local knowledge and his own car, as insurance is tricky and sometimes unknown and a trap for the unwary.o

for altitude sickness dink sme tea called mate de coca tea brewed fresh with the leaves of the coca plant, not too tasty but it works, though I never needed any myself personally. boxes are legal in Peru but not to be imported any of it it into the USA but I put a couple in my luggage and brought them home ok, YMMV though.

t walgamuth · #25 03-20-2015, 11:17 AM

Yeah! We have a Nissan versa sedan with a five speed and wonderful ac. We´l drive to nazca sat and see lines, then have a car reserved in Cuzco.

traffic in the city is brutal and not for the faint of heart!

I've attached pics from the large mud brick pyramid in Lima. It is ancient and so big its never been dug up and hauled away or built over to any degree. Before it was opened for tourism it was a place where people took dirt bikes and rode around.

I'm going to add pics day by day when I have time.

Jim B. · #26 03-20-2015, 11:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by t walgamuth

We figured it all out. We are in Lima today. Got in at 5 am. Its up in the 80s and humid and the lovely little bed and breakfast has no ac....yikes! We´ll fool around Lima today and tomorrow and on saturday we´ll head down the coast on the carrera panamerica and see the nazca lines. Next day after that we´ll fly over to Cuzco to see Macchu pichu.

dinner at beach, La Rosa Nautica, best in Lima its said

Simpler=Better · #27 03-20-2015, 12:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by t walgamuth

You two are a lot of help!

Reminds me of the fourth comment:

I am an LED idiot. My gf may now leave me. : electricians

t walgamuth · #28 03-21-2015, 12:28 AM

my client from lima who now lives in lafayette was in peru this week to see machu picchu and his family so met us at his favorite local restaurant. we had a great meal of local specialties. i´m gonna shower again and go to bed now!

Delibes · #29 03-21-2015, 08:25 PM

Can't wait to see pictures!

t walgamuth · #30 03-24-2015, 09:36 AM

in preparation of the flight from lima to cuzco we cut it too close and i could not find the way into the return area for the renta car, got onto a limited access road and had to drive to the next town to get turned around. i missed the plane but my family got on and flew to cuzco. i spent the night in a dive called
after a lovely lunch we climbed the ruins at the edge of town which are fantastic but not much publicised.

today more ruins and tomorrow will go to macchu pichu. food is very good. i have eaten with gusto many things i have no clue what they are. guinea pig probably for supper. got shaken down by the local gendarme near paracas on saturday for <$66. having grand time! coca candy helps with the lack of oxygen at 8500 feet elevation.
i did find my family yesterday. details later. pretty complex. climbed the impressive ruin here in ollantaytambo yesterday. most impressive but not much publixized. today more ruins and tomorrow will go to macchu pichu. food is very good. i have eaten with gusto many things i have no clue what they are. guinea pig probably for supper. got shaken down by the local gendarme near paracas on saturday for <$66. having grand time! coca candy helps with the lack of oxygen at 8500 feet elevation.