3-Night Cusco: Heilige Vallei, Machu Picchu, Sacsayhuaman

Lenin van Viator zorgde voor veel miscommunicaties over Machu Picchu. Dit omvatte timing van toegang (2 uur later dan verwacht), uitvaltijd (6 uur later dan verwacht), de naam van onze reispersoon (geen bewegwijzering of ophaling werd gedaan, wanneer het beloofd was), drop-off locatie van de hotel (werd in plaats daarvan om 01.30 uur op de City Plaza afgezet) en ophaalservice voor het hotel naar de luchthaven (de autoservice is nooit aangekomen en we hebben in plaats daarvan een uber genomen). We bevestigden alle timing met Lenin de dag ervoor en bevestigden zelfs de pick-up voor de luchthaven de dag ervoor. Toen we klaagden bij Viator, veegden ze het af en verstrekten ze een vergoeding van $ 20 voor de taxi's en ubers die nodig waren in plaats van hun pick-up, maar ze leken nauwelijks voorbij te gaan aan de vertragingen en miscommunicaties van Lenin. We hadden ook moeite Lenin te pakken te krijgen. Hij zei dat hij contact moest opnemen via mobiele telefoon / sms, en van de 8 + oproepen riep hij slechts één keer terug. Dit zou 1 (verschrikkelijk) zijn geweest, als de andere twee dagen (City Tour (Sacsayhuaman) en de Heilige Vallei) niet zo gecommuniceerd waren. Boek op eigen risico. Zou het niet aanraden.

Misterios Peru and Lenin did a fair job of organizing our tour - there were some hiccups along the way that should be addressed. First, there was no one waiting with a sign for us at Cusco Airport. The organizing company should realize that if the driver is there waiting, they HAVE TO HOLD A SIGN up or we won't be able to figure out who our driver is. Bag handlers and taxi drivers in Peru are fairly aggressive about trying to get customers, so this lead to an unpleasant first introduction to Cusco. Second, the tour operators tend to run on Peru Time, which means they will probably be late by 10-15 minutes every day. Third, when we rode the train to Machu Picchu from Ollantaytambo, our seats were not next to each other we were in a group of 4. Instead, we had to sit across from strangers the seats were arranged to be facing each other - they were unwilling to switch seats. Fourth, when we arrived to Machu Picchu, we couldn't find our tour guide after getting off of the bus at the entrance. Again, HOLDING A SIGN WITH A NAME ON IT is required to find someone in the huge crowds at the entrance to Machu Picchu - the customers can't be expected to ask the dozens of guides there who is supposed to be guiding them! After talking to a half-dozen guides and not finding ours, we ended up entering the site without the guide because we couldn't find him. At the end, Lenin did help us get our taxi ride back to the Cusco Airport at the end quickly, within minutes of me calling him, so he did genuinely seem to want to help. Overall, it was still an enjoyable trip, but the aforementioned problems are basically what we wanted to avoid by hiring a tour group in the first place.

Truly, once in a lifetime experience. Mysterios Peru Travel looked after all our needs. From pick up at the airport, through El Puma hotel, all necessary tickets and reservations, to final drop off on day 4 everything was well prepared! Our coordinator, Lenin, stayed in constant touch to insure our comfort in this foreign to us language country. Choice of venues may be somewhat overwhelming to a less agile seniors, as bus access is limited to a front gate entry. Walking sticks would be highly recommended to anyone needing assistance. Insect repellent and sunblock application is a must! Complementary buffet lunch on Secret Inca Valley tour, day 2 and lovely box brunch, for the early morning start for Machu Picchu tour were greatly appreciated. As Lenin told us upon arrival, everything is looked after! And it certainly was :