Quick Review,
Having just returned from the Peru trip with Amazon add on in November I can honestly say that this was one of the best trips I have ever been on. Although it was my first time with Just You, I am lucky enough to have done many long haul tours previously with a competitor and the JU holiday certainly matched the best of them.
We were lucky because the weather was good throughout but at that altitude it can change so you need to cover for all eventualities. I think the pre travel instructions refer to ski type gear and that is probably right although a ‘soft shell’ jacket will probably act as waterproof and warm layer at the same time. I never actually wore mine but if the rain we had overnight in the Amazon happened in the daytime, I certainly would have.
Things to take, electrical adaptor (round two pin), photo copy of main passport page as you can use as ID rather than carry passport around, rehydration sachets like Diorolite (more on this later). If you are doing the amazon, head torch and wellington boot socks. Anti mozzi stuff although they were not a problem even in the rain forest. Malaria tablets but cheaper to get in Tesco or Asda than a GP prescription.
This is a full on trip in that there is little spare time as there is so much to see but well worth it. The most important point to make is about the altitude and the effects which some of us experienced. Do the following and you will not have any problems. The key is to drink large quantities of water and if you need it, the dehydration sachets. 0.6 litre bottles are available everywhere and you need 3 of those a day. I never drink water and struggled at first but you soon get used to it. Alison out brilliant tour manager hammered this home and she was right it does work and anyway you are never far from a toilet and if you have done a few of the tours the saying, “see one use one” applies.
All the hotels serve free coca tea which looks a bit like green tea and is the local preventative drink and well worth having a cup every morning or when you feel breathless and you can always buy the local coca sweets which are not bad. Once I got used to drinking that amount of water I was fine. Don’t be put off because of what I have said, just start drinking the water when you arrive up in Cusco and all will be fine.
Peru is not an expensive country and my total spend was about £300 in Peruvian currency and £150 in Dollars and this covered meals and gifts and my need for lots of red wine. I bought a baby alpaca wool scarf for about $44 included in that amount. You can get the Peru Sol in the UK and I got mine in Tesco and make sure you specify new notes, as they don’t like grubby ones. I found $1 dollar bills very useful for tipping so plenty of those will be useful. There are ATM’s but don’t rely on them so take before and use the safe in the hotel rooms.
The food was very good and they were able to cope with the vegetarian in the group. If you want to try a guinea pig order one between a group of you. The alpaca meat is quite tasty but don’t try the giant maggot things for sale in the Amazon.
One or two people were put off going to the Amazon because of the creepy crawlies but don’t be as they don’t get that close to you. I had a fear of snakes but managed to touch one in in the sanctuary we visited but this was not compulsory. We all said that whilst Machu Picchu was fantastic and the main reason for going, the Amazon was the highlight.
As way if there are any more questions,
Keith
