A little info about Peru

My eyes opened big when two of my Malaysian friends said that an organized trip to one of the new seven wonders in the world, Machu Picchu is about RM30K. Why is it so expensive? Maybe the air ticket from Malaysia to Peru is more expensive and staying in 3-5 star hotels, and having a tour guide all the way.
We went from the USA to Peru with DIY Machu Picchu trip and stayed in budget hostels. The total spent for both of us for transport, food, accommodations, and some souvenirs was not over US$4350 – less than RM8K per person.
Let’s talk about our trip planning and some tips. I hope this little bit of info will help those who like to plan their own trips.

• In Peru, the main language is Spanish. Most people don’t speak English, but some can speak a little English if they deal with tourists.
• The exchange rate between the US Dollar and Peru’s Nuevo Sol was about US$ 1 = S/ 3.1 when we went in December 2008.
• ATMs are plentiful, and most allow withdrawals in either Soles or US Dollars. In addition to Soles, some places accept US dollars, and some also accept Euros.
• We only saw Visa logos in places that accepted credit cards; MasterCard did not seem to be widely accepted.
• When buying bottled water, two types are available: one with a navy blue bottle cap and the remark CON GAS (with gas), which means carbonated water, and one with a light blue bottle cap and the remark SIN GAS (without gas), which means plain water (like normal drinking water.)
• Prices in most places are negotiable. This includes taxis, tour packages, & souvenirs.
• Wi-Fi was available in many places.
• November – March is the rainy season, April – October is the dry season, June – August is peak tourist season.
• The international airport in Peru is in Lima. We are from St. Louis, so the best connecting flight to Lima is in Miami. From the research, there is not much to do in Lima, and there were many reports of robberies. It is possible to avoid staying in Lima.
• If visiting Machu Picchu, the closest airport is Cusco (also spelled Cuzco). From there you either go by train to a little town called Aguas Calientes, which is near Machu Picchu, or go on the Inka Trail trekking tour.
• In addition to Machu Picchu, we also planned to go to Puno to visit Lake Titicaca. The closest airport is Juliaca, or you can go by train from Cusco to Puno. So, our air itinerary is: STL – MIA – LIM – CUZ – JUL – LIM – MIA – STL. The air ticket, including tax, is US$1572.55, and a US$20 commission per person charged by travel agent.
• An airport tax must be paid at each airport in Peru prior to departure. The tax must be paid before you go through the security checkpoint. The airport tax varies by location.

Our planned trip involved payments:
Day 1: The airport tax going from LIM to CUZ is US$6.05 or S/19.54 (can pay by Soles). Staying in Cusco in a room with a double bed is US$40 in Hostal Amaru 1. Going to Aguas Calientes by Perurail (book online in advance), one way on the Vistadome train is US$71, or pay a commission and ask a local tour agent to purchase your train ticket (besides Cusco, there are train stations in other towns on the way to Aguas Calientes).
Day 2: Staying in Cusco in a room with a double bed US$40 in Hostal Amaru 1.
Day 3: The taxi fare from the hostel to the train station is S/6 (about US$2). Staying in a room with a double bed at the Wiracocha Inn in Aguas Calientes is US$55. The Machu Picchu entrance ticket is S/122 (about US$41, but they only accept exactly S/122, no US$ and no change back), and a round trip bus ticket US$14 from Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu. The first buses leave at 5:30 a.m., so buy the bus and entrance tickets a day in advance.
Day 4: Because we were informed that the trains from Machu Picchu – Cusco were full, we planned a stop at the Ollantaytambo station. A one way Vistadome train ticket is US$53 or US$60. The taxi fare from Ollantaytambo to Cusco is S/50 (about US$27). Staying in Cusco in the Ninos I Hotel in a room with a double bed is US$40.
Day 5: Staying in Cusco in the Ninos I Hotel is US$40. The taxi fare from Cusco to Pisac (also spelled Pisaq) is S/30 (about US$10). The taxi fare from Pisac to Cusco is S/35 (about US$12). [We joined a half day city tour from 2-6pm, going to 5 places for S/18 (about US$6) per person. This did not include the price of the entrances tickets, which were S/80 (about US$27).]
Day 6: The taxi fare from the hostel to the Cusco airport is S/10 (about US$3.50). The airport tax going from CUZ to JUL is US$4.28 or S/13.50. The minibus fare to go from Juliaca airport to Puno is S/15 (about US$5) per person. Staying at the Inka’s Rest hostel in a room with a double bed is US$30. A whole day boat excursion on Lake Titicaca, going to Uros (floating islands) and Taquile Island, is S/30 (aboutUS$10) per person.
Day 7: Staying at the Inka’s Rest in a room with a double bed is US$30. The visit to Uros includes going for a ride in a reed boat. This is optional and the fee is S/5 (about US$2, optional) per person. Lunch on Taquile Island is S/15 (about US$5), and is not included in the tour package cost.
Day 8: The minibus fare from Puno to the Juliaca airport is S/15 (about US$5) per person. The airport tax going from JUL to LIM is US$3.47 or S/11. How much was the LIM to MIA airport tax? We don’t know, since the airport tax and a food voucher were compensation because of our flight was delayed.
两位马来西亞朋友对我说，世界新七大奇迹之一的马丘比丘（Machu Picchu）旅游组团，每人约三十千马币，我听了眼睛张大，须要这么贵吗？马来西亞到秘鲁，可能机票比较贵，也许是住3-5喜星级酒店，旅团都有导遊。
我们是从美国到秘鲁，我们的Machu Picchu自助游及住廉价旅店，交通、吃、住、买一点物品，俩人共花费没超过US$4350 – 即是说每人也不超过八千马币。
先说一说我们的计划行程及一点贴士吧，好让想计划到那儿一游的人有些概念。

• 秘鲁（Peru）是以西班牙语为主，大多都不会英语，有些旅游业者会少许英语。
• 2008年12月，我们旅游期间，美国与秘鲁钱币的汇率约US$ 1 = Soles 3.1。有些地方接受美元也接受欧元。
• 多处有ATM机，可用visa卡提款秘鲁钱币或美元。
• 有些地方交易接受visa卡，不广泛接受master卡。
• 瓶庄食水有两种: 一种深蓝瓶盖，注明CON GAS即有汽，碳化食水; 另一种浅蓝瓶盖，注明SIN GAS即没汽食水，如平常食水。
• 大多处价钱可商量，包括的士、旅团和物品。
• 大多处有无线纲络。
• 11月 – 3月是雨季，4月 – 10月是旱季，6月 – 8月是旅遊旺季。
• 秘鲁的国际机场是在Lima，从St. Louis出发到Lima，最理想的转机站是Miami。从资料得知Lima没什么看头，又是匪徒很多的地区，可省略停遊此市。
• 要观赏马丘比丘，最近的机场是Cusco（Cuzco），然后要乘火车或参加爬山团到靠近马丘比丘的小市叫Aguas Calientes。
• 除了马丘比丘，我们又去该国Puno市的Lake Titicaca，其最近的机场是Juliaca（或从Cusco乘火车至Puno），所以我们的机场行程是: STL – MIA – LIM – CUZ – JUL – LIM – MIA – STL。机票及加税价US$1572.55，加代理购票费为US$20每张机票。
• 每个秘鲁的机场，起程前都须付税，各地点不同税价，在未进入保安检查口前付款。

我们的行程所需的款额:
第一天: LIM到CUZ机场税US$6.05或S/19.54（可付Soles）。住Cusco的Hostal Amaru 1，双人房US$40。去Perurail火车站买火车票到Aguas Calientes（须上纲预定火车票），Vistadome train单程是US$71或询问当地旅社代买加费的火车票，（除了Cusco站，有其他站可抵达Aguas Calientes）。
第二天: 住Cusco的Hostal Amaru 1，双人房US$40。
第三天: 的士费S/6（约US$2）到火车站。住Aguas Calientes的Wiracocha Inn双人房US$55。去预买明天到Machu Picchu的门票S/122（约US$41，须付足122 Soles，没得找钱回及不收美元）及从Aguas Calientes到Machu Picchu的来回巴士票每人US$14，巴士5.30am开始川行。
第四天: 因我们被告知Machu Picchu - Cusco的火车票已满座，所以计划回程到Ollantaytambo站，Vistadome train单程是US$53或US$60，从Ollantaytambo到Cusco的士费S/50（约US$27）。住Cusco的Ninos I Hotel，双人房US$40。
第五天: 住Cusco的Ninos I Hotel，双人房US$40。从Cusco 到Pisac的士费S/30（约US$10），从Pisac 回Cusco的士费S/35（约US$12）。[参加巴士旅团2-6pm半天游5景点每人S/18（约US$6）及门票共S/80（约US$27）。]
第六天: 从Cusco 到机场的士费S/10（约US$3.50）。CUZ到JUL机场税US$4.28或S/13.50。从Juliaca机场到Puno小巴士每人S/15（约US$5）。住Puno的Inka’s Rest，双人房US$30。参加明天一日游Lake Titicaca的Uros（floatimg Island）和Taquile Island团每人S/30（约US$10）。
第七天: 住Puno的Inka’s Rest，双人房US$30。Uros的芦苇船费每人S/5（约US$2，若不要可拒绝）及在Taquile Island午餐S/15（约US$5），这是不包含在参团费。
第八天: 从Puno到Juliaca机场小巴士每人S/15（约US$5）。JUL到LIM机场税US$3.47或S/11。LIM到MIA机场税？不晓得，因我们的班机延时，而补偿我们机场税及餐卷。