Logistical Details Peru - Weaving Words and Women with Page Lambert and Laura Tyson April 20 – May 1, 2012 To and from Lima Most flights from the states arrive late at night in Lima. Plan to arrive by the night of April 20. We will arrange for transportation from the airport to the hotel for you. Please let us know your flight information as soon as you book your flight so we can plan on a pick-up time for you.
Most flights back to the states leave late at night, arriving the following morning. Unless you are planning to stay longer in Peru, book your return flight for the late afternoon or evening of May 1. If you flight leaves after midnight, be sure it leaves on the 2nd and not the 1st!
You can find flights on Expedia, Travelocity, or any of the other online ticketing sites.
www.travelocity.comwww.expedia.comwww.globester.com
To and from Cusco Booking a flight to Cusco is a little more complicated! Cost varies widely, and if you book directly with the airline website it will be considerably cheaper than booking with a site like Travelocity or Expedia. There are two main airlines for domestic travel in Peru- LAN and TACA, and a third smaller one, Peruvian Airlines. As of March 1, 2011, a RT flight on TACA is $338, and a RT flight on LAN is $486, and a RT flight on Peruvian Airlines is $271. All are including taxes. You can try a Peruvian based discount site, www.go2peru.com , which has considerably cheaper rates for RT tickets, but the site is difficult to navigate and there have been problems reported with them. Use at your own risk!
Try to get on the TACA flight that departs at 10:10am on April 21, arriving in Cusco at 11:30. There is also a Peruvian Airlines flight that departs Lima around 9:30. Either is fine. If you can’t get on those flights, there are many flights with LAN, so try to get one arriving in Cusco soon before or after 11:30am.
Our trip in Cusco will end on the morning of the May 1st. The return TACA flight leaving Cusco at 12:10 should get you to Lima in plenty of time to catch a return flight home that afternoon or evening. There is also a Peruvian airlines flight that departs Cusco around mid-day. If another time works better for your return plans, that’s fine. We can arrange to get you to the Cusco airport anytime on the 1st.
It is typical in Latin American countries to find a ‘surprise’ airport departure tax on your international return flight. Find out if your international ticket already includes this departure tax. If not, remember to save some Nuevo Soles for this. The tax is typically around $30, and we’ll find out an exact cost once the trip gets closer. Note: We strongly suggest waiting to book a flight until we have confirmed that we have the minimum number of people to make the trip go.Medical Insurance
We recommend that you check your health insurance to make sure that it covers medical incidents and costs of evacuation that occur outside of the United States. We also highly recommend that you purchase travel insurance that specifically covers medical costs and evacuations. World Nomads has a two week policy for $76, although it has an age limit of 66. You can also try InsureMyTrip, which is an overview of many different policies, including trip cancellation insurance. Medical Issues
Please look at this website for information about vaccinations and medical issues for travelers to the Cusco area. http://mdtravelhealth.com/destinations/samerica/lima_cusco.php
VaccinationsYou should plan on getting a vaccination for Hepatitis A, at least four weeks prior to departure, if possible. Talk to your doctor about also getting an oral typhoid vaccine. You should also make sure that you have had a tetanus shot within the last ten years.
High Altitude and Other ConsiderationsWe will acclimatize slowly, starting in Pisac at 9,000’ and not spending an overnight in Cusco, at 11,000’, until the tenth day. However, if you have had symptoms of Acute Mountain Sickness at high altitude in the past, you may want to consider asking your physician for a prescription for Diamox (acetazolomide). Diamox can alleviate the nausea and headache that some people get during the first few days at altitude. Drinking large quantities of purified water and Vitamin C, and avoiding alcohol for the first 24-48 hours, is recommended.
The MD Travel Health website recommends traveling with an anti-diarrheal and antibiotics. We will carry an anti-diarrheal medication (Immodium) in our first aid kit, but because different people have different tolerances for certain antibiotics, we suggest that you talk to your physician about whether you should bring an antibiotic in case you become ill, and get a prescription (which should be filled ahead of time) for an antibiotic that works for you. Health and Fitness
This is an active, walking trip, and to enjoy the trip activities, you should be in reasonably good health. Visiting the ruins involves walking up short sections of steep and uneven terrain, although the pace can be as slow as you wish. Our explorations of Cusco and local villages will involve walking. If you don’t already get some basic walking exercise, we suggest that in the months leading up to the trip you begin to walk several times a week. What to Bring
Packing efficiently is the key to enjoyable travel! This list is a ‘must-have’, minimum list, so feel free to bring what you want, but add to the list sparingly. Quick drying socks and underwear are easy to wash in your hotel room. You can expect daytime temperatures to range from “shorts and t-shirt” warm to “long pants and jacket” cool, and night time temperatures can drop into the forties. The average daytime temperature in Cusco in April is around 69. The rest of our trip will be lower in elevation, and therefore slightly warmer. Clothing Comfortable walking shoes Slippers, sandals, or something to put on at the hotel if your shoes get wet Comfortable, quick-drying pants-1-2 pair Shorts or capris- 1 pair
Long-sleeved synthetic or lightweight cotton shirtShort sleeved t-shirts, synthetic or cottonSweater or fleece topFleece jacketLightweight windbreaker or jacketQuick-drying, synthetic long underwear topRaincoat & Rain pants (make sure they are gortex or water proof)Socks- wool or quick drying- 3 pairsWarm hat- fleece or woolBrimmed hat for sunLightweight glovesUnderwear and bras
General Daypack. Comfortable and large enough to carry raingear, extra clothing, water, and a
Journal and pens. Headlamp or flashlight. This is handy for not disturbing your roommate in the night. Ear-plugs and/or eye-mask. Good for a good night’s sleep!Toiletries- small amounts in small containersMedicines- if you are taking a medication that you can’t do without, we suggest bringing
two sets, in separately labeled containers, and giving one to someone else on the trip in case yours gets lost.
CameraSunscreen and lip balmSunglassesNon-breakable water bottle- one liter or quart. Money belt or neck pouch to carry passport and money. Passport
Money You will want some amount of money for the things not included in the trip- bottled
drinking water, alcoholic beverages, tips for local guides (optional), and gifts and souvenirs. Drinking water will cost $1-2 per day. Other than that, the amount you bring is up to you.
Cash. If you bring US dollars, be sure the bills are in good condition. Peruvian banks and
vendors will not accept worn or torn bills.
Credit Card. There are plenty of ATMs. Be sure to call your credit card company and
inform them that you will be travelling out of the country, and don’t forget your PIN number!
If you have ANY questions about the logistical details of the trip, or need help booking your flights, feel free to contact Laura at lauratyson@msn.com or 303-499-2475.
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