TRAVEL INFORMATION

Three routes to chose from - 2 for the not altitude-experienced + 1 for the altitude-experienced

1. Route for the not-altitude-experienced
Getting slowly used to the high altitude: bus drive from Lima via Nasca to the Sacred Valley

• Rute: Lima, Paracas: 0 -- Nasca: 700 -- via 4.300m nach Chalhuanca 2.800 -- Urubamba: 2.900 -- Ollantaytambo: 2.700 -- Aguas Calientes: 2.000 -- Cusco: 3.300 -- Puno: 3.800 -- Colca Canyon: 3.600 -- Arequipa: 2.300 -- Lima: 0

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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This route is the best for those who have less experience with high altitudes (more than 3000 m). You sleep 5 times on altitudes between 2.000 und 2.800 m which allows your body to get slowly used to the altitude. By doing so we use the correct "altitude tactic", negative symptoms like tiredness, dizziness and sleeping problems will be less severe or not showing up. The first overnight above the magic 3000m-limit is no sooner than on the sixth day after your ascent to the Andean Mountains which is day 9 of your travel! Look again at the diagram above to see how convenient this tour would be for you!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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2. Route for the not-altitude-experienced - medium length-- flight Lima - Cusco

Route for the not-altitude-experienced travellers, in this case for those who prefer a shorter trip. The advantage here: short stay over 3000 metres.

Route: Lima - Valle Sagrado - Machu Picchu - Cusco - Puno - Colca - Arequipa - Lima

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3. Route for the altitude-experienced

- bus or flight Lima - Arequipa 
- after the arrival in the high Andes, just 2 to 2.5 days for acclimatisation

Excausting: Lima: 0 -- Paracas: 0 --
Nasca: 700 -- Arequipa: 2.300 -- via 4.900 m to  Colca Canyon: 3.600 -- Puno: 3.800 - Cusco: 3.300 - Ollantaytambo: 2.700 -- Aguas Calientes: 2.000 -- Cusco: 3.300 -- Flight Cusco - Lima: 0
The following diagram shows without a doubt: the most common and most offered touristic route from Lima via Arequipa to Cusco is just recommendable for experienced travellers!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Diagram: The best known and most offered touristic route to Cusco and Machu Picchu, via Nazca - Arequipa, is just recommendable for travellers with experiences with high altitude. Our investigatons have shown that half of our travellers have problems with the standard route, and those problems usually last a minimum of three days. The affected persons complain about headaches, loss of appetite, sleeping problems and stomach aches. After a drive of about 4 hrs from Arequipa  (2.300 m) to Patapampa-Pass (4.900m) to Chivay (3.600 m) lots of them have had experienced the lighter form of the AS and those sympthoms had unfortunately last until leaving Cusco (3.300 m) and heading to the Sacred Valley (2.700 m).

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Summary

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