Peru - Lima (Nazca Lines) and Cuzco (Machu Picchu) Itinerary

The things I do for love.. because I really find historical ruins boring.. but here we are.. 

Checking an item on my husband's bucket list.. at Machu Picchu, Peru!

I must admit though that when the wind blew the fog away and uncovered those ruined buildings.. I whispered to myself.. "Wow.."

It wasn't just the ruins. It was the whole scene with a backdrop of beautiful high mountains. 

Then I came to understand why a lot of people have this Inca site in their travel goals.

And because it was also his birthday, I sent him flying over the Nazca Lines to celebrate! ;)

I'll tell you more about our experiences next time..

For now, just sharing with you how we got there :)

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Flight - Miami to Lima - Jetblue Airways

Day 1 - Lima

Land Transfer - Airport to Hotel - Hotel Transfer

Hotel - Tierra Viva Miraflores Larco - 1 Night

Plaza Mayor or Plaza de Armas, Lima

Day 2 - Lima to Nazca Lines

Land Transfer - Lima to Nazca Lines - Great Nazca Tours

Hostel - c/o Great Nazca Tours

El Parque del Amor or Love Park, Miraflores, Lima

Day 3 - Nazca Lines to Lima

Flight Tour over the Nazca Lines - Great Nazca Tours

Land Transfer - Nazca Lines to Lima - Great Nazca Tours

Hotel - Tierra Viva Miraflores Larco - 1 Night

Killer Whale, Nazca Lines

Day 4 - Lima to Cuzco

Land Transfer - Lima Hotel to Airport - Taxi

Flight - Lima to Cuzco - StarPeru

Land Transfer - Cuzco Airport to Hotel - Hotel Transfer

Hotel - Tierra Viva Cusco San Blas - 1 Night

Sleep well and drink lots of water to help avoid altitude sickness in Cuzco ;)

Plaza de Armas at dusk, Cuzco

Day 5 - Cuzco to Aguas Calientes (Machu Picchu)

Land Transfer - Hotel to Train Station - Hotel Transfer

Train - Cuzco to Aguas Calientes - PeruRail

Hotel - Tierra Viva Machu Picchu - 1 Night

Bring Insect Repellant.. We left with a lot of bites from sand flies!

Plaza de Armas, Aguas Calientes

Day 6 - Aguas Calientes (Machu Picchu) to Cuzco

Land Transfer - Aguas Calientes Town to Machu Picchu Site - Shuttle Bus 

Buy your bus ticket at the ticket booth the night before to avoid queueing in the morning.

Entrance Ticket to Machu Picchu - Machu Picchu Website 

Only the Spanish version of the site works when booking. (as of writing)
Book your entrance ticket in advance as there is a limited number of visitors allowed on the site per day.

Train - Aguas Calientes to Cuzco - PeruRail

Land Transfer - Train Station to Hotel - Hotel Transfer

Hotel - Tierra Viva Cusco San Blas - 2 Nights

Machu Picchu

Day 7 - Cuzco

Hotel - Tierra Viva Cusco San Blas - 2 Nights

Plaza de Armas, Cuzco

Day 8 - Cuzco to Lima

Flight - Cuzco to Lima - StarPeru

Flight - Lima to Sao Paulo - LAN Airlines

A Baby Alpaca on the Streets of Cuzco ;)

I hope this is helpful guys!! :) 

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A year ago, we went to the Floating Islands of Uros in Lake Titicaca, Puno, Peru via Copacabana, Bolivia. 
You may want to add this in your itinerary as per below.

Day 8 - Cuzco to Puno (Lake Titicaca)

Flight - Cuzco to Puno (Juliaca Airport) / or Bus

Tour - Check with the hotel or online

Our tour came from Copacabana, Bolivia via Late Bolivia Tours

Hotel - Casona Plaza Hotel c/o Late Bolivia Tours - 1 Night

Totora Reed Boat and the Man-Made Uros Islands of Lake Titicaca, Puno

Day 9 - Puno (Lake Titicaca) to Lima

Flight - Puno (Juliaca) to Lima

Floating Islands of Uros, Lake Titicaca, Puno

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References:

Our Budget for 8 Days Per Person with shared rooms - September 2015
(EXCLUDING INTERNATIONAL FLIGHTS to and from Lima)

Domestic Flights - USD 220
(Lima to Cuzco to Lima)
Trains - USD 157
(Cuzco to Machu Picchu to Cuzco - Expedition 33/34)
Shuttle Buses - USD 24
(Town to Machu Picchu Site to Town)
Hotel Transfers and Taxis - USD 39
Accommodations - USD 350
Food - USD 180
Activities - USD 290
(Nazca Lines Flight Tour - USD 250 / Machu Picchu Entrance - USD 40)
Total Per Person = USD 1,260

Floating Islands of Uros, Peru

Fascinating and colorful.. some people say it is touristy..

But I believe it became touristy because of all the tourists.. like us!

Well.. I really loved it! :)

The floating islands of Uros on Lake Titicaca, Peru..

From this town of Puno..

We headed to the shore of Lake Titicaca..

To board a motor boat..

That would bring us 30 minutes away..

Paid some entrance fees..

To enter into this whole community..

Of at least 40 manmade floating islands made of totora reeds..

And boats made of empty plastic bottles, and totora reeds..

Paddled by the strong Uros women.. Though pushed by little motor boats when they got tired.. Or maybe it was to make the boats move faster ;)

Each tourist boat was assigned an island to visit.. 

Our hosts at the Corazon island were anticipating our arrival..

Gathered around to listen to the tour guide.. And I was left behind again.. haha! :)

This is the totora reed.. What everything you see is made of!

They are harvested from the lake itself.. 

The leader of the island showed us how they constructed everything..

The reeds were laid down in layers.. like Jenga or Uno ;) 

The islands were anchored below similar to how boats are anchored..

Then she told us a story about how a strong wind caused a few islands to get released from their anchors and all ended up in one place.. 

I thought that was funny.. but she looked at me so puzzled when I laughed.. so I had to pretend I was talking to my husband ;)

When the reeds dry up like the ones you see here.. they break up easily when stepped on.. and they create dust that could harm the eyes..

The Uros people have to constantly add new layers of fresh reed to maintain their islands..

Women weaved..

Made colourful crafts.. 

And put up stalls aimed at us who flock to them..

Across the lake.. was another stretch of floating islands..

So time to cross.. in this lovely totora reed boat..

On the way to the only floating post office in the world.. which was actually just another island with a post office ;)

To get this cool stamp on our passports! :)

And by the way, don't forget to have your yellow fever vaccination certificate when going through or back to Singapore..

Hope you enjoyed the colors and the ride! :P

Related Stories: Isla del Sol, Lake Titicaca, Bolivia

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References:

Passport Holder - www.dutchman-originals.com

Customised Tour of Uros Islands and Isla del Sol - www.latebolivia.com