Peru

Have any of you traveled to Peru, and if so, do you have any insights or suggestions to share? Favorite stops, excursions, hikes, tour leaders, foods, shopping, etc. This is our first RS trip so any tips are welcome.

Going in April 2018. I am concerned that the travel departure time from Boston could possibly have us arriving in Lima late in the evening. Is there flexibility with the RS Travel agency (Holbrook Travel) to allow us to choose a departure time on a airline that will give us a decent arrival time in the early evening?

I went with the Holbrook recommended flights when I went this past June. But when I arrived, I found that if you ask/push, you can get them to go with different flights. Several people on our trip did that successfully. If I'd known, I might have skipped flying all the way from the West Coast to Miami. You may need to pay for an extra night in Lima depending on what you are able to work out.

I went this past September. My Delta flt from Cleveland connected in Atlanta departing Atlanta about 6:00 and arrived about 12:30 am. Lima is on EST, but they don’t do “daylight savings time “. It take at least an hour to get to you hotel. I chose to leave on Thursday in order to have a day to rest /relax before starting the touring on Saturday morning. Being a single female traveling alone I also requested Road Scholar transportation from airport to hotel. Add cost for transportation and extra hotel night, but for me I thought it was well worth it. I also talked to my doctor about altitude sickness she prescribed something, I think it was Diamox which might act as a diuretic. I had no problems with altitude. There are not a large amount of flights to choose from and Most flts do arrive in Lima very late. Holbrook travel was very helpful, provided me with an option on American, but I stayed with the Delta flt and just left one day early. Hope you have a wonderful trip

Just booked flights this week with Holbrook for my July 2018 Inca Trail trip. I did flight research on my own beforehand. Laurie (from Holbrook) listened to my concerns (decent arrival time ... plus I added on an independent Amazon Lodge extension myself and Laurie coordinated that flight stuff) and gave me options. Great service and better flights so I highly recommend Holbrook.

I would suggest a red-eye so that you would arrive in Lima in the morning the day before the official start of the program. We did that and Road Scholar met us at the airport and took us and our luggage to the hotel where we thought the hotel could store our luggage until the official check-in. However, the hotel did better than that. The room was ready, so they let us check in early. No guarantees on early check-in, of course, but it's still a great way to have have more time to visit Lima also. We pretty much had to take a red-eye as we don't live in a major city. I just got back from the trip yesterday and it was GREAT! You'll love it no matter when you arrive.

We are going on that same trip in April 2018. We are coming from Minnesota and arriving early in the morning on the 12th. I know that we are unable to get into our room until the afternoon. Hoping to sleep on the plane.

I wonder if you meant early in the morning on April 19th or April 20? We are coming from Massachusetts (via Hartford, CT) and will be arriving in Lima at 11:45 PM on the 19th. So after clearing customs we will not get to the hotel until probably between 1-2 am on the 20th. If I am interpreting it correctly, the 19th is a paid trip night so we should be able to check in after midnight without a problem.

We are going in April to Peru and it is the Majesty and Mystery: Ancient Civilizations. April 12-24th. This must be another option with RS. Holbrook booked us with American Airlines. MN to Dallas. We get to Lima Thursday the 12th at 5:24 am. Check in is 3:00 I believe. I wanted to avoid late night and opted for early morning. Not sure which is a better option. Looking forward to trying a RS trip.

OK, now I understand. We are doing the Hiking the Inca Trail trip on April 19-May 1. Hope you have a great time. Would love to hear from others who are on the same trip as my husband and I. (Our first RS trip too!)

In 2016, I spent a week with a group building housing (with the Fuller Center) near sea level. Then we toured for a week by train, plane, and shuttle-bus. Just a word about altitude sickness for the uninitiated. It's REAL and it can put a serious damper on your fun! After much consideration, I decided to forego the pharmaceutical option, and just do as the locals do. So, I drank tea made with coca leaves. This completely cured the symptoms I was having at Cusco. And, while ascending Huayna Picchu (the mountain above above Machu Picchu) I chewed coca leaves. Incidentally, Cusco is at higher altitude than Machu Picchu. In case you wonder, I did not return home addicted to anything besides coffee, and I left home with that addiction.

Where can you get tea and leaves going April 13-21 2018

All the hotels in the Andes had them at every meal.

I am also a single female traveler arriving around 11:30 pm in Lima in September. I was told by Holbrook to take "Taxi Green" at the airport. Do you remember what service Holbrook arranged for you?

I am also a single female traveler arriving around 11:30 pm in Lima in September. I was told by Holbrook to take "Taxi Green" at the airport. Do you remember what service Holbrook arranged for you?