Would I be an idiot if I went to Peru and didn't go to Macchu Picchu?

Question

I want to go to Peru in the next couple of weeks and I know Macchu Picchu is booked till september. Can you tell me any other really cool places to go in Peru that won't be crawling with tourist? I will be able to stay for 10 days so let me know what is a MUST SEE. Thanks!

Answer 1

Yes, you would.  Macchu Picchu is one of the most breathtaking and incredible places on the planet.  Pictures don't do it justice and that is rare.  Usually a picture can make a place more beautiful.

Yet if you don't have the time, Arequipa is gorgeous.  I'd go there over Trujillo any day.

Answer 2

Machu Picchu is NOT dangerous ¬¬

Yeah. Machu Picchu is great but you can visit another places like Arequipa, or Chan Chan, Manu, or Lima

Visit Lima, you see there how the people live and discover the other face of Peru

Answer 3

No, not at all, Macchu Picchu is dangerous. Every year tourists fall off the mountain and die.  There are no railings.  

What do you mean Macchu is booked, Macchu Puicchu is a Mountain, a mountain can not be booked.

Get a good travel agent to book your trip.  If you have not booked your hotel, I recommend The Hotel Turista (Machu Piccu) if it's available.  

It's small, I think they have only 6  rooms available.

Answer 4

Not at all. there tonnes of other places to visit, like Cusco. Besides some friends were mugged and robbed in Macchu Pichu ; easily targeted since they were foreigners.

Answer 5

well no i did not go one time when i was there besides i heard it was dangerous

Answer 6

I agree to say that Macchu Picchu is not booked. The Inka trail on the other hand is very limited and usualy gets booked during the dry season.

¿10 days in Peru?

N° 1 Option:  2 days in Lima 5 days in Cuzco (including Macchu Picchu-Aguas Calientes) 3 Days in Lake Titicaca (including Tiahuanaco ruins in Bolivia).

N° 2 Option: 3 Days in Arequipa (including Colca Canyon) 5 days in Cuzco (including Macchu Picchu-Aguas Calientes) 2 in Lima.

N° 3 Option: 3 days in Lima, one week in Iquitos with Amazon Jungle Cruise (the difference with MANU is that it's not just wlidlife but the biggest city in the jungle for you to see.

Other options:

4.- Lima-Huaraz (mountain climbing on the tallest mountains in Peru) - Chavin de Huantar.

5.- Lima-Cajamarca-Chiclayo-Trujillo

Answer 7

NOpe, I live here and have never been.  Try Puno, Arequipa and Turjillo

Answer 8

Lots of nice places in Peru. One of my favorites is Iquitos....gate to the amazon river and jungle. It is an hour flight from Lima and lots of hotels.

Answer 9

Well.....you wouldn't be an idiot if Machu Picchu is booked solid till September.

There are a few places that may interest you, depending on your passions.  If you love nature.....then visit Manu National Park or Colca Canyon.

If you're into archaeology, then visit Kuelap in the Department of Amazonas.  You have to fly to Chiclayo first (or you can take an interprovincial bus).  Then you should contact a reputable tour company in Chiclayo to take you to Chachapoyas (usually about 15 hours by 4 x 4).  Check out "Tambos Chachapoyanos" on the internet, they do great tours of Kuelap and other ruins, some of which are still virtually untouched.

Or you can just go to Chiclayo and visit the Tomb of the Lord of Sipan (a warrior priest) in the nearby town of Sipan. There are two important museums in Lambayeque, one being the Bruning Museum and the other the world-class Museo del Senor de Sipan.

I think that would be the most rewarding use of your time, if you can't visit Machu-Picchu, one of the 7 Wonders of the World.

Answer 10

There's a pretty incredible all-inclusive package at http://www.flybymetravel.com and it includes Macchu Picchu

Click on the "Adventures" button on the left and then go to the bottom of the page to YTBOudoors and find the Peru Package.

Answer 11

go to trujillo,  I really dont know cool places in lima , i think clubs, beach, etc but we have the same here , but if you go to trujillo , and Cusco you can visit so many places and know about the Incas .

Answer 12

Hi

I dont think Macchu Picchu is booked till september..I think it is just the inca trail that is booked.  

If you want to trek to macchu picchu there are other treks

(see www.sunriseperu.com)

Answer 13

I lived in Peru for 8 years.  Some of the better sites to visit are:  Chan Chan ruins which is just outside of Trujillo

         Convent  "Santa Catalina" in Arequipa

         Cañon de Colca  (colca canyon)  deepest in the world

         Lake Titicaca   highest nagivable lake in the world.

         Gold Muesum in Lima

         Señor de Sipan museum  near Chiclayo

         Amazon river tours from Iquitos

         Nazca lines

        Good luck and stay safe.