Map of Peru

In case you're interested, here are two maps of Peru - one in Spanish and with a bit more detail, and one with the English-ized version of things and a bit simpler to look at. We are staying in the southern parts of Peru, partially because two weeks is not a long time and we don't want to spend too much time travelling between cities, and partially because Megan has studied tropical diseases and wants to stay out of the Amazon basin for now. I think the Amazon is another type of trip entirely.

Here you go:






























If you click on the photos they will enlarge. Lima is on the coast about 3/4 of the way down. We then fly inland and up a bit to Arequipa, then way up in elevation to Lake Titicaca/Puno (I know Beth is laughing at the name already), then down in elevation (but up in latitude) a bit to Cusco, then we head to Machu Picchu, where the air will be quite thin!

More later. I just spent four hours putting together our itinerary and I am hungry...

And then there were three...

So Suzanne dropped out a while back, so it's Talia, me and Beth heading off to Peru this week. I'm very excited!

I'll be sending out an e-mail with our itinerary, but here it is just in case it doesn't go through:

January 3rd: Megan flies from SF, Beth and Talia fly from LA. We all change planes in San Salvador and get on the same flight into Lima. Arrive in Lima at 2:15PM local time. They are, I think, two hours ahead so the time change won't be too bad.

January 3rd: Stay at Hostel El Patio.

January 4th: Fly to Arequipa, departing at 1:15 and arriving at 2:40PM.

January 4 - 7: Stay at Hostal las Torres de Ugarte in Arequipa.

January 7th: Fly to Juliaca, bus it to Puno, departing at 7:50AM and arriving at 8:35AM.

January 7th: Pick up train tickets at soon as possible (see below)

January 7 - 9: Stay at Hotel Italia

January 9th: Train to Cuzco, departing at 8:00AM and arriving in Cuzco at 5:50PM - this is a first-class train through the Andes with a three-course lunch included.

January 9 - 13: Stay at Hostal El Balcon in Cuzco.

January 13th: Train to Aguas Calientes, departing at 7:00 AM and arriving at 10:54AM.

January 13 - 15: Stay at the Inti Inn in Aguas Calientes.

January 15th: Train to Cuzco, departing at 5:00 PM and arriving at 9:23PM.

January 15th: Stay at Hostal El Balcon in Cuzco.

January 16th: Fly to Lima, departing at 11:05AM and arriving at 12:25PM.

January 16th: Stay at friend's house in Lima (confirm with Talia).

January 17th: Fly to SF (Megan) or LA (Beth and Talia), departing at 3:00 PM and arriving (for Megan at least) at 11:20PM.

Here we go!