What’s the best tour company for holidays to peru and Bolivia?
Hi,
My friend and i are going to go to Peru and maybe Bolivia in August and we’re trying to find the best deal. We’re looking to trek the Inca trail, spend a few days in the amazon and cycle down the most dangerous road in the world.
Can anyone recommend any tour operators for this? The cheaper the better but not to skimp on safety or quality. Or if you know a better way to do it that would be good too.
Thanks.
Hi. Trekking the Inca Trail in August is going to be tough because there is a quota and reservations that fill up long in advance. Still, some agencies might be able to fit you in. Generally, those are the more expensive ones. I can recommend my friends at Solandino (www.solandino.com), who once fit me and a group in for an August trip on short notice.
If you arrive in Cuzco without having previously arranged an Inca Trail hike, there are other great hiking options around Cuzco that can be organized on a moment’s notice. Salcantay is a nice hike, finishing in Machu Picchu. Also Choquequirao is becoming more popular, with a route that also finishes near Machu Picchu. My favorite hike in the area is Ausangate and Sibinacocha, but that doesn’t take you anywhere near Machu Picchu. There are dozens of agencies in Cuzco that can arrange these hikes for you for relatively cheap ($300). My friends at Solandino can do the same. The same agencies will also gladly arrange a jungle trip directly from Cuzco.
Getting to Bolivia from Cuzco is not that difficult. You can bus or fly to Juliaca, then overland to the border (I recommend Copacabana), then on to La Paz. In La Paz, on Sagarnaga street, there are also dozens of trekking agencies and everybody sells that biking trip down the mountain. Just take a good look at the bikes before you depart, inspect the brakes, the tires, the chain. Make sure everything is tight. Beware that in Bolivia, there are frequent road blockages due to strikes. When I was there a few weeks ago, many tourists were stranded in Coroico for several days. I had problems getting out of La Paz and back to Peru. It can be a headache.
If you have questions about particular agencies, or want to find recommendations, join the South American Explorer’s Club (www.saexplorers.org). They have a good clubhouse in Cuzco and are very helpful in assisting visitors with all of those questions, even before you leave.
June 17th, 2010 at 12:35 am
Hi. Trekking the Inca Trail in August is going to be tough because there is a quota and reservations that fill up long in advance. Still, some agencies might be able to fit you in. Generally, those are the more expensive ones. I can recommend my friends at Solandino (www.solandino.com), who once fit me and a group in for an August trip on short notice.
If you arrive in Cuzco without having previously arranged an Inca Trail hike, there are other great hiking options around Cuzco that can be organized on a moment’s notice. Salcantay is a nice hike, finishing in Machu Picchu. Also Choquequirao is becoming more popular, with a route that also finishes near Machu Picchu. My favorite hike in the area is Ausangate and Sibinacocha, but that doesn’t take you anywhere near Machu Picchu. There are dozens of agencies in Cuzco that can arrange these hikes for you for relatively cheap ($300). My friends at Solandino can do the same. The same agencies will also gladly arrange a jungle trip directly from Cuzco.
Getting to Bolivia from Cuzco is not that difficult. You can bus or fly to Juliaca, then overland to the border (I recommend Copacabana), then on to La Paz. In La Paz, on Sagarnaga street, there are also dozens of trekking agencies and everybody sells that biking trip down the mountain. Just take a good look at the bikes before you depart, inspect the brakes, the tires, the chain. Make sure everything is tight. Beware that in Bolivia, there are frequent road blockages due to strikes. When I was there a few weeks ago, many tourists were stranded in Coroico for several days. I had problems getting out of La Paz and back to Peru. It can be a headache.
If you have questions about particular agencies, or want to find recommendations, join the South American Explorer’s Club (www.saexplorers.org). They have a good clubhouse in Cuzco and are very helpful in assisting visitors with all of those questions, even before you leave.
References :
June 17th, 2010 at 1:22 am
You can try GotoBus http://www.gotobus.com/latinamerica/. They have many good prices on tour packages.
References :