Lima to Machu Picchu

[Sandy64]

Has anyone used the Travel Agency Trip-Peru? I am thinking of using them for a 3 day/2 night journey from Lima to Machu Picchu in January. Any comments would be appreciated.

[Duane T]

Has anyone used the Travel Agency Trip-Peru? I am thinking of using them for a 3 day/2 night journey from Lima to Machu Picchu in January. Any comments would be appreciated.

 

I just returned from a Princess Cruisetour to Lima, Cusco and Machu Picchu. Lima Tours was the local tour operator and I have to admit that took excellent care of our group of 66 people. I don't know if they handle smaller groups or individuals, but the tour guides we were with indicated they had given tours to smaller groups.

 

I give Lima Tours a grade of A. Excellent tour guides made all the difference to us, took care of all of our excursions costs (Train, Machu Picchu and other Inca sites, airfare).

[fun cruiserz]

Hi Duane

 

We are doing this same cruise tour with Princess next year. Do you remember the name of the hotel Princess uses in Lima Peru, we start our tour there and were thinking of flying down a day early and adding an extra night at the hotel, but our itinerary just says "stay overnight at a Lima Hotel"

[Duane T]

Hi Duane

 

We are doing this same cruise tour with Princess next year. Do you remember the name of the hotel Princess uses in Lima Peru, we start our tour there and were thinking of flying down a day early and adding an extra night at the hotel, but our itinerary just says "stay overnight at a Lima Hotel"

 

Yes, the name of the hotel in Lima is the Hotel Casa Andina Private Collection Miraflores. There are several Casa Andina hotels in Miraflores so I'd double check to make sure you get the one that say PRIVATE COLLECTION. I wrote a couple of updates on this in the Princess Cruise board under Machu Picchu. Most of my issues with Princess is that they didn't update our Itinerary with hotels in Lima and Santiago until rather late in the process. Like you, I wanted to book several days in Lima before the cruisetour and I ended up contacting Lima Tours directly to find out where they were booking Princess cruisetours in Lima. Princess Cruises finally did agree to book the extra-day at the Lima hotel but it was a month after I got the details directly from Lima Tours. Whoever in Princess is in charge of Land tour arrangements in South America seems to be tied up in negotiations (or something) until the very last minute...thus delaying information to us (the passengers).

[fun cruiserz]

thanks for the information. I might contact Lima Tours closer to when we go to confirm this is the same hotel they are using

[fun cruiserz]

Hey Duane,

 

Sorry a couple more questions about the hotel. So did you end up waiting for Princess to book you the extra night or did you just go ahead and book it yourself?

 

Also if we are arriving in Lima a day early how does that work for airport transfer to the hotel, do they arrange to pick you up at the airport early and drop you off at the hotel, or do we now have to do this on our own since we are flying on Saturday instead of the Sunday like Princess recommends?

[Duane T]

Hey Duane,

 

Sorry a couple more questions about the hotel. So did you end up waiting for Princess to book you the extra night or did you just go ahead and book it yourself?

 

Also if we are arriving in Lima a day early how does that work for airport transfer to the hotel, do they arrange to pick you up at the airport early and drop you off at the hotel, or do we now have to do this on our own since we are flying on Saturday instead of the Sunday like Princess recommends?

 

I finally ended up booking directly with Princess...but....

When I initially asked to book an extra pre-cruise night, they said no (about 4 months out). I made it a point to call them at least once a week to request an update on availability. About 60 days out, I was going to make a reservation on my own (just to make sure I had a room since I had already made my airfare reservation) to arrive a day early. Princess then told me they would take my money for the extra-night, even though they did not disclose the hotel. This made me nervous so I continued to call Princess weekly to confirm my reservations until the early arrival date and hotel appeared on our Cruise Itinerary.

 

On the Lima Airport to Hotel transfer, I was told by Princess that I would have to pay extra to be picked up a day early. I was a bit irritated by the charge, but since I've experienced mix-ups with Princess last year in Beijing (Airport to Hotel transfer), I decided to pay it. Lima Tours, the local Princess contractor, was waiting for us just outside of customs with our name in large bold letters on an Ipad the driver and escort gave us a mini-Lima City tour via the seaside route with recommendations of places to visit and eat at Larcomar Shopping Center on the waterfront. They also told us when/where to meet for our initial cruisetour meeting in the Hotel Lobby the following morning. The Lima Tours escort walked us through check-in, got copies of our passport and Peru Visitor Pass (which are forms that you fill out and get stamped at Lima Airport's Immigration desk). Lima Tours then uses these copies to pre-register you at all the Peru Cruisetour Hotels in Urubamba, Aquas Calientes (Machu Picchu), and Cusco so your Hotel card keys are waiting for you when you get to each Peru Hotel (and your luggage is waiting for you in your room). They'll also use these Passport/Visitor Pass copies to get you registered for your tickets on Peru Rail's Vistadome Train to/from Machu Picchu and for your entry tickets to Machu Picchu.

Edited January 14, 2014 by Duane T

[dog]

What hotel is Princess using in Lima for their cruisetour in 2018/2019 season?

[Lisbethcro]

On 1/12/2014 at 1:44 AM, Duane T said:

 

Yes, the name of the hotel in Lima is the Hotel Casa Andina Private Collection Miraflores. There are several Casa Andina hotels in Miraflores so I'd double check to make sure you get the one that say PRIVATE COLLECTION. I wrote a couple of updates on this in the Princess Cruise board under Machu Picchu. Most of my issues with Princess is that they didn't update our Itinerary with hotels in Lima and Santiago until rather late in the process. Like you, I wanted to book several days in Lima before the cruisetour and I ended up contacting Lima Tours directly to find out where they were booking Princess cruisetours in Lima. Princess Cruises finally did agree to book the extra-day at the Lima hotel but it was a month after I got the details directly from Lima Tours. Whoever in Princess is in charge of Land tour arrangements in South America seems to be tied up in negotiations (or something) until the very last minute...thus delaying information to us (the passengers).

Thank you so much, I too am trying to book hotels prior to out cruise tour.  How did you contact Lima Tours?  I have called Princess and no help there!!  Any help is appreciated!

 

 

[4774Papa]

On 12/1/2013 at 10:14 AM, Sandy64 said:

Has anyone used the Travel Agency Trip-Peru? I am thinking of using them for a 3 day/2 night journey from Lima to Machu Picchu in January. Any comments would be appreciated.

We priced going to MP on a cruise tour with Celebrity on a previous cruise as well as on our upcoming one in March out of Chile.

What a rip off.  The prices exceeded by far the cost of our 15 day cruises.

 

I found a great 4 day 3 night tour of MP from Lima with PeruAgency for $799 pp.  Also, found another choice (private tour) with Monica Tours of Lima for about $1200 pp.  We booked PeruAgency. I purchased my own airfare on Avianca.  It wasn't expensive.

[4774Papa]

https://www.peruviantimes.com/13/earthquake-struck-machu-picchu-in-1450-study-concludes/31027/

 

 

[Budget Queen]

On 12/1/2013 at 10:14 AM, Sandy64 said:

Has anyone used the Travel Agency Trip-Peru? I am thinking of using them for a 3 day/2 night journey from Lima to Machu Picchu in January. Any comments would be appreciated.

 

 

I would never consider this,   it is too short of a time,  and frankly a poor choice for my priorities.   You are significantly better off,  acclimating at least another day.  a 5 day/4 night trip is my minimum.