Zaandam Inca Discovery: shuttles in ports?

[sjf]

We are sailing next April and wondered whether we can expect shuttle buses to be available from the ports in South America and Mexico to nearby towns. If you have any experience of this, all information would be welcome.

Thanks.

[Loreto]

We are sailing next April and wondered whether we can expect shuttle buses to be available from the ports in South America and Mexico to nearby towns. If you have any experience of this, all information would be welcome.

Thanks.

 

Hi....we were on the Zaandam South America/ Antarctica and most recently the 31 day Incan Empires last November on the Statendam, so I think we have been to many of the ports on your itinerary. HAL provided "on your own" excursions in a number of ports, especially Lima and Salaverry(Trujillo) but didn't post them prior to embarkation, which was frustrating in trying to plan. I would suggest you call HAL and inquire. None of these "on your own excursions" were free, but in the case of Lima, there is a lot to see in the general area of the Plaza Mayor that would make the excursion in worthwhile. Traffic in Lima is terrible, and the port is a good distance from the city.

 

We have been on the Zaandam three times, and she is a great ship!

 

Karen

[sjf]

Hi....we were on the Zaandam South America/ Antarctica and most recently the 31 day Incan Empires last November on the Statendam, so I think we have been to many of the ports on your itinerary. HAL provided "on your own" excursions in a number of ports, especially Lima and Salaverry(Trujillo) but didn't post them prior to embarkation, which was frustrating in trying to plan. I would suggest you call HAL and inquire. None of these "on your own excursions" were free, but in the case of Lima, there is a lot to see in the general area of the Plaza Mayor that would make the excursion in worthwhile. Traffic in Lima is terrible, and the port is a good distance from the city.

 

We have been on the Zaandam three times, and she is a great ship!

 

Karen

Thanks, Karen. Lima was the port I was most interested in. Did you stop in manta in Ecuador? Is it worth doing a ship excursion there?

It's great to hear from someone who has done these ports. If there is anything you could recommend to us first-timers, please let us know.

Sue

[Loreto]

Thanks, Karen. Lima was the port I was most interested in. Did you stop in manta in Ecuador? Is it worth doing a ship excursion there?

It's great to hear from someone who has done these ports. If there is anything you could recommend to us first-timers, please let us know.

Sue

 

Hi Sue, The ship docks in an industrial port, and only ship excursion busses were allowed on the pier. To get to the front gate you had to take the shuttle bus provided. This is where you meet private guides. We were cautioned not to wander out into Callao the port. Right by the ship there was a Peruvian Market full of vendors and free WiFi, so it as a good place to get souvenirs . I actually bought a beautiful alpaca sweater and a few other items, and felt prices were comparable to shops in Lima. Because there were things I wanted to see in Lima that were not visited on any of the HAL tours, I hired a private guide from Lima Mentor. We were joined by 3 others on our roll call. I told the company what I wanted, and they put together 2 full days of touring with a fantastic guide.

 

The problem with HAL tours was that there weren't all day tours (for the most part) You had a 4 hour tour and then returned to the ship (with an hour drive each way) and lot of wasted time. It wasn't until we got on the ship that HAL offered Lima on your own transportation. I wish we had known! there was plenty to do in a general area, with lots of restaurants, it would have made a nice day.

 

The 3rd day we did take a HAL tour, which was fine.

 

In Manta Ecuador there was a shuttle to the end of the pier, with shops and a casino. We took a HAL tour with Manta cuisine and Panama hats....it went to a resort in the cloud forest, to a small beach community , a tagua button factory and a hat factory (all out doors) We saw a lot of Ecuador and felt it was money well spent.

 

I used a web site called Lima Easy to find a lot of useful information about Lima.

 

I hope this helps!

Karen

[SilvertoGold]

A short shuttle to the market area in Manta and a shuttle to Mirafores in Lima are standard.

We have used them several times on this itinerary.

 

We found the HAL shorex to the historic area in Lima was really well done. It is partly a well-guided walking tour. A lot of value in this one.

 

What are your other ports?

[sjf]

Hi Sue, The ship docks in an industrial port, and only ship excursion busses were allowed on the pier. To get to the front gate you had to take the shuttle bus provided. This is where you meet private guides. We were cautioned not to wander out into Callao the port. Right by the ship there was a Peruvian Market full of vendors and free WiFi, so it as a good place to get souvenirs . I actually bought a beautiful alpaca sweater and a few other items, and felt prices were comparable to shops in Lima. Because there were things I wanted to see in Lima that were not visited on any of the HAL tours, I hired a private guide from Lima Mentor. We were joined by 3 others on our roll call. I told the company what I wanted, and they put together 2 full days of touring with a fantastic guide.

 

The problem with HAL tours was that there weren't all day tours (for the most part) You had a 4 hour tour and then returned to the ship (with an hour drive each way) and lot of wasted time. It wasn't until we got on the ship that HAL offered Lima on your own transportation. I wish we had known! there was plenty to do in a general area, with lots of restaurants, it would have made a nice day.

 

The 3rd day we did take a HAL tour, which was fine.

 

In Manta Ecuador there was a shuttle to the end of the pier, with shops and a casino. We took a HAL tour with Manta cuisine and Panama hats....it went to a resort in the cloud forest, to a small beach community , a tagua button factory and a hat factory (all out doors) We saw a lot of Ecuador and felt it was money well spent.

 

I used a web site called Lima Easy to find a lot of useful information about Lima.

 

I hope this helps!

Karen

Thanks so much, Karen. A lot of really useful info there. i know on previous cruises there have sometimes been shuttles announced only once we were onboard. It makes planning difficult and the cruise line obviously hopes everyone will sign up to one of their tours . I was also disappointed to see that HAL does not do a longer tours - it does not make sense to keep travelling in and out of the city. We arrive at mid-day on Day 1. We thought of doing the BY NIGHT tour but it seems an incredible waste of an afternoon to have to wait until 7pm to get off. I guess now I know that there are souvenirs etc in the port, we could do a bit of shopping there in the afternoon. The alternative would be to get a private guide from 2pm - 9 or 10pm. We could pack in more that way. I will check out Lima Mentor. Also that Lima Easy site you mention.

 

Day 2 we have a full day private trip planned. Day 3 I think we may do a ship's walking tour. We heard traffic in Lima can be bad and don't want to risk missing the ship!

[sjf]

A short shuttle to the market area in Manta and a shuttle to Mirafores in Lima are standard.

We have used them several times on this itinerary.

 

We found the HAL shorex to the historic area in Lima was really well done. It is partly a well-guided walking tour. A lot of value in this one.

 

What are your other ports?

 

Good to know the shuttles will be available. Do you by chance remember what times the Lima shuttle ran? Is it just one set time, or do the buses run at various times? On Day 1 when we arrive in port at midday, it'd be good to set off soon after that but we'd also like to stay in until dark to see the Fountain show. Would the shuttle run during the evening?

I think the walking tour you mention is the one we are thinking of for Day 3.

 

We are starting from Vaparaiso heading up to Coquimbo/La Serena, Lima, Salaverry/Trujillo - we have a CC trip booked for that stop, manta, Puerto Caldera, Puerto Chiapas, Puerto, Vallarta and Cabo San Lucas.

 

Thanks for your help. If you have any thoughts/suggestions for the other ports, please let me know. I haven't got to planning anything after Trujillo.

[Loreto]

We took an all day HAL tour in Trujillo that went to the 3 major archeological sites, Huaca de Luna, Chan Chan and the tomb of the Senorita de Cao. It was a lot of travelling on the double decker tour bus, but seeing the countryside was fascinating. We had several guides on the bus. We were divided in groups, and all the guides were excellent. We were given a box lunch as we boarded which we could eat when we chose, maximizing our time at the sites.

 

There was a shuttle to Trujillo, but the important things to see are the Huacas, which are a distance from the city. There was also a great assortment of vendors at the cruise pier...very tempting!

 

There were tour vendors on the pier offering their services. This part of Peru was very poor, some people were turned off by what they saw, but that is why you travel, to see how the rest of the world lives and appreciate what you have.

 

Karen

[SilvertoGold]

Good to know the shuttles will be available. Do you by chance remember what times the Lima shuttle ran? Is it just one set time, or do the buses run at various times? On Day 1 when we arrive in port at midday, it'd be good to set off soon after that but we'd also like to stay in until dark to see the Fountain show. Would the shuttle run during the evening?

I think the walking tour you mention is the one we are thinking of for Day 3.

 

We are starting from Vaparaiso heading up to Coquimbo/La Serena, Lima, Salaverry/Trujillo - we have a CC trip booked for that stop, manta, Puerto Caldera, Puerto Chiapas, Puerto, Vallarta and Cabo San Lucas.

 

Thanks for your help. If you have any thoughts/suggestions for the other ports, please let me know. I haven't got to planning anything after Trujillo.

 

The Lima shuttle ran pretty much for most of all the days we were in port. There was always a long line, but worth the wait, considering the alternative, a taxi, which was not something we were interested in chancing!

 

I loved Coquimbo, such a walkable, quaint place. Lots to see close to where the ship docks.

There has been a small market just inland from the dock, very good pricing.

It is an easy walk up to the big church on the hill, with huge cross which you will notice from the ship (Cruz del Terce Milenio), interesting houses along the way; the people are very friendly and will point you in the way to the entrance (around the back).

Lots of small shops on the main street. Very safe feel to the whole area.

Edited November 2, 2015 by SilvertoGold

[mcmarya]

In Trujillo we were able to get an independent tour at the pier--since the van was filled, the transportation was $15 each and we paid our own admissions to the Huacas and Chan Chan (around $15 total, including tour guide, cheaper if you had soles). We voted to go to Chan Chan first and pretty much had the place to ourselves. There was a shuttle to town for $20 round trip. In the daily program it said that taxis would be limited in the port which probably convinced folks to sign up for the shuttle. Unfortunately, the electricity was turned off that day (some kind of conservation effort) so not much was open in town. Based on our experience I would not do the shuttle there.

[sjf]

Thanks everyone. All very useful.

 

We have already signed up for a private day tour in Trujillo (temples, Chanchan and reed fishing boats) organised by a lady on our cruisecritic rollcall.

 

It is reassuring to know that there will (almost certainly) be shuttles available.