HOLA PERU TRIP - Various queries

Re: HOLA PERU TRIP - Various queries

Hello, Daver!

Sorry to barge in on your thread like this, but you've raised some good questions, and - more importantly to me at this current time - I'm on the same tour, starting on 26/08/07.

I'd posted a message in the "Departures Lounge" section asking anyone on this tour to get in touch, but got no replies Anyway, feel free to message me ahead of the tour - I'm travelling alone, so would be handy to at least vaguely know someone else on the tour.

I'll also add my own question - the details of the tour, and the itinerary, seem a bit contradictory regarding the Inca Trail. Do we have to carry our own sleeping bags, or do the porters carry these? I know the porters don't carry any of our other personal gear, but the itinerary does suggest that they carry sleeping bags. I'm trying to choose a trekking pack at the mo, so some confirmation on this would be really handy - I'll need one I can attach the bag to if I'm carrying it myself.

Cheers!

Re: HOLA PERU TRIP - Various queries

Hi Daver and Dom,

Thanks for your questions.

It's a reasonably early start on day 18 and day 20; between 8 and 9 in the morning usually. You arrive back into Lima at around 4pm on day 20.

Clothing-wise you are about right Daver. The inca trail isn't normally too chilly but the evenings, particularly on day 2 of the trek, can get a bit cooler, which is why it's a good idea to take one or two extra layers and some thermals.

You will only need to carry your sleeping bag for around 10 minutes at the start of the trek before your porters take these for you. You will be carrying your sleeping mat however. One tip is to take a black plastic bin liner to wrap your sleeping mat in for the trek to keep it dry in case it rains.

I hope this helps.

Regards,
Brendan

Re: HOLA PERU TRIP - Various queries

Hi Daver,
When you leave for Pto. Maldonado and from there to Lima will depend on the flight but it will be in the morning.
Regarding how hot or cold you can expect it to be - it will be both. Layers are indeed the key - because of the altitude when you're in places like cusco or lake titicaca it can be really hot in the sun, ,then a cloud arrives and the temps drop 10'C. Though it will, most likely, be hot in places like Nazca or Pto. Maldonado.
Enjoy your tour.

Re: HOLA PERU TRIP - Various queries

Thanks, all tips gratefully received
Dave

Re: HOLA PERU TRIP - Various queries

Actually, I've got another query, this time about baggage.

Given that we have to carry most of our own gear for the Inca Trail trek, I obviously need a rucksack. I've already got one, but I bought that for when I went to Nepal, and it's a large one (suitable for using for a couple of weeks' holiday). As such, I think it's a bit too big and unwieldy for a four day trek, even if I'm carrying my clothes and other odds and ends.

I've seen some people saying that in similar circumstances, they have a big wheeled holdall to bring everything in, and put a smaller rucksack inside, for use when trekking for short periods. Would this be suitable for the Hola Peru tour? I'm not sure whether I'd make getting about more difficult by using a wheeled holdall, but I don't imagine it would.

Has anyone got any suggestions?

Re: HOLA PERU TRIP - Various queries

Also, if a wheeled holdall is okay, has anyone got any suggestions as to where I can get one? Cheers!

Re: HOLA PERU TRIP - Various queries

Hi Dom,

Thanks for your questions.

It really is a matter of personal preference and you can take either a large rucksack or a soft-sided bag with wheels on tour with you and place a smaller daypack (small backpack) inside for the trekking.

A rucksack probably edges it for convenience in Peru and there won't always be a flat surface for the wheels but that said I always prefer to take a large bag with wheels with me wherever I go, since I'm comfortable carrying/dragging it and find it easier to pack and unpack.

I'm afraid I just can't recall where I got mine from... I guess any good travel or camping store and online stores will most-likely have the lowest prices. In fact, adventure travel luggage could be quite a lucrative Ebay store if one doesn't exist?!

Regards,
Brendan

Re: HOLA PERU TRIP - Various queries

Thanks for that, Brendan - I now have a smaller rucksack which I think will do the job for the trek, so it just remains for me to decide whether I want to put it in my bigger rucksack, or if I want to get a wheeled holdall. I must admit, there are quite a few available at good prices on eBay, and I'm tempted to get one.

I do have another query, though - has anyone got any recommendations as to how best to take currency to Peru? Obviously I'm changing all my money into dollars before I go, but what's the situation like in Peru regarding traveller's cheques? I usually take a mixture of currency and traveller's cheques so I don't lose all my money in case of accident and theft.

Any suggestions on how to approach this would be gladly welcomed!

Re: HOLA PERU TRIP - Various queries

Hi Dom,

I'll leave that decision to you re a new holdall. One idea I had was a UK-based luggage rental service for this type of tour - i.e. for a fraction of the cost you could rent a really decent rucksack or holdall for a couple of weeks - do you think you would be tempted to rent a rucksack if it was decent and it was a cheaper alternative? Just a thought!

In terms of money for Peru, here's our recommendations, which I have copied from the country dossier, and which sums it up perfectly:

The Imaginative Traveller Recommends: Bring a combination of cash and traveller's cheques (in US$). Notes should be blemish free.

We recommend that you bring cash / traveller

Re: HOLA PERU TRIP - Various queries

Brendan

I must say, you're quite the budding entrepreneur - if you're not talking about the importation of Egyptian handicrafts or setting up an Egyptian holiday fishing company, you're proposing a luggage rental scheme!

Ordinarily, I wouldn't rent luggage, for the simple - if rather pointless - reason that I like to use my own gear. However, I think I'm probably in the minority on that score, and for this particular tour I'd be very tempted. Say, for example, that ImTrav had access to perfectly suitable rucksacks for the Inca Trail (not too big, not too small, not too bulky - think Goldilocks but with rucksacks rather than porridge!). In that instance, I could just bring my own rucksack for the 3 weeks, and transfer my necessary trek gear to a rented rucksack for the time spent on the trail.

That way, I wouldn't be in the situation I'm in now, trying to find space to put an extra rucksack in my bag, along with a sleeping sheet, sleeping bag, all my clothes, wash kit and so on. I know it's best to travel light, but there are limits, especially on a 3 week tour!

I must admit, I preferred the Nepalese system of trekking, when all I needed was a small daypack and some stuff sacks for the trek bag that the porters carried. I understand the reasoning why I need to carry all my own gear - limiting the number of porters means more people get to trek the trail, which is clearly a good thing - but it's one of those irritating headaches you'd rather avoid, if possible!

In short, I'd be really interested in a luggage rental scheme, particularly on any tour that involves a trek where you need to carry more than a daypack. I'd suggest, too, that any such business could make a killing in renting out sleeping bags, down jackets (usually pretty bulky), trekking poles, and other assorted walking gear.

Thanks for the info on currency - I forgot to check the country dossier, which was a bit remiss on my part. Now all I need to know is if Maestro cards are usable in Peru, then at least I can draw money from an ATM if needed!

Re: HOLA PERU TRIP - Various queries

Hi Dom,

Thanks, I'll take that as a compliment! I have actually started my own import company and today is my last day with the Imaginative Traveller, which is why I'm getting a little carried away with all my ideas

I totally agree about the other items you mentioned and originally I was thinking along the lines of camcorders and digital cameras too, along with sleeping bags, down jackets, etc, etc. If there was a link on our website to such a hiring service travellers could save a fortune hiring their travel gear rather than purchasing new...

But I digress, I don't want to give away all of my secrets and the idea has some downsides too! I was going to call the idea the Travel Hire Company ltd.

As long as your debit card has a Cirrus symbol on it it should be okay at any overseas ATM. Both my Maestro cards have the Cirrus symbol and I've never had any problem using either overseas. Just remember not to rely on one method or the other so that you always have a backup source of money.

Hope this helps.

Regards,
Brendan

Re: HOLA PERU TRIP - Various queries

Oh, you're leaving? Well, best of luck with your new venture. It all sounds very exciting, and I wish you all the best! Surely the major advantage is that you'll be your own boss...I'd love that.

Your travel rental idea has real mileage, I think - I'm not sure about whether people would hire digital cameras (they're so cheap and prevalent these days), but hiring a camcorder might be a possibility. I do think that many of these things have to be available for you to pick up in country, though, due to size/bulkiness...for example, I actually have a camcorder (it's pretty old) but I wouldn't dream of taking it on holiday, as it's too bulky and is yet more stuff to find space for in my bag. If I was just borrowing a camcorder in downtown Lima, and handing it back at the end of the tour, though, it's a different matter, and a lot more tempting!

Good name for the company, by the way. Short and to the point.

As for the debit card, mine does have a Cirrus symbol, so it looks like I'll be okay. Obviously, I'll be mixing cash and traveller's cheques in the main, but it's nice to know I can take my ATM card as a back-up, too.

As always, your advice is most appreciated. Best of luck for the future!

Re: HOLA PERU TRIP - Various queries

Hi Dom,

Placing the items in the airport in destination is not a bad idea at all! But it would be a logistical nightmare and cost a lot more than my current measley budget! Still, where there's a will there's a way I guess...

The shop at the airport could lend out camcorders and sell the discs/tapes/memory sticks so you simply purchase them to keep and hire a rugged camcorder. Goodness knows what you would do about them going missing or getting damaged though, perhaps a bond would have to be paid or some kind of insurance taken. It might work with trekking equipment and sleeping bags too.

Being your own boss is of course appealing but it means a heck of a lot more pressure and responsibility, as well as some sleepless nights and nobody to turn to in a crisis! You have to try these things though

Lovely talking to you Dom any way; all the best too.

Regards,
Brendan.