South America

mac123

Two quick questions:

1. Hostels - Im arriving in Rio in mid September. Should I be looking at booking a hostel in advance. I was on hostelworld yesterday and a few places seemed to be booked up already. Its a weekend so maybe thats the reason.

If so is this the case for most places or can I just show up and find somewhere for the most part?

2. Cusco/Machu Pichu - Im going to be in Peru by late Nov/early Dec. Now this seems to be the worst time of year for the inca trail. Apparently Jan is the only month wetter than Dec so im just wondering if anyone has any experience being there this time of year? Also im thinking of doing the Salkantay trek instead...anyone done both? Opinions?

Cheers...

imme

good idea to book Rio hostel I think, particularly as you know when you'll be there.

Meathlass

I'd book your first few nights in Rio just to ease yourself in to it. Apart from big cities and maybe festival weekends you'll be able to just show up most places and get something - guidebooks are usually so out of date that places have closed by the time you get there. I noticed in Peru that on the buses leaving one city for another people would come on the bus with flyers for hostels in the next city and a lot of buses are met by hostels workers with mini buses to take you there.

Can't help you with Inca trek I'm afraid - I went at that time of year by train and it rained non stop for a week. People I knew did the trek and hated it - it was physically tough and misty so they only saw a few metres in front of them. By the time they got to MP they just wanted to sleep in a bed and have a shower. I took the bus to Ollantaytambo, explored the ruins there and took a late night train to Agua Calientes then got the early bus to MP and was there before sunrise and had a great day. Most of the trekers had gone home by midday because they were exhausted and the rest of tourists were gone by 2pm to catch train back to Cusco - I stayed until 4pm, had a little picnic with some of the staff and stayed the night in Agua Calientes before getting the 6am train back to cusco. I;ll probably get shot for saying this but I think the Inca Trail is over hyped and there are lots of other nicer trails to go on.

dory

Meathlass wrote: »

I'd book your first few nights in Rio just to ease yourself in to it. Apart from big cities and maybe festival weekends you'll be able to just show up most places and get something - guidebooks are usually so out of date that places have closed by the time you get there. I noticed in Peru that on the buses leaving one city for another people would come on the bus with flyers for hostels in the next city and a lot of buses are met by hostels workers with mini buses to take you there.

Can't help you with Inca trek I'm afraid - I went at that time of year by train and it rained non stop for a week. People I knew did the trek and hated it - it was physically tough and misty so they only saw a few metres in front of them. By the time they got to MP they just wanted to sleep in a bed and have a shower. I took the bus to Ollantaytambo, explored the ruins there and took a late night train to Agua Calientes then got the early bus to MP and was there before sunrise and had a great day. Most of the trekers had gone home by midday because they were exhausted and the rest of tourists were gone by 2pm to catch train back to Cusco - I stayed until 4pm, had a little picnic with some of the staff and stayed the night in Agua Calientes before getting the 6am train back to cusco. I;ll probably get shot for saying this but I think the Inca Trail is over hyped and there are lots of other nicer trails to go on.

I agree with the above. No harm booking ahead if you know when you're arriving.
I know a few people who did it in December. They survived! They all have photos in matching see-through plastic ponchos! I wouldn't want to do it in that weather. There are plenty of other nice places to trek in SA at that time of year.

mac123

Meathlass wrote: »

I'd book your first few nights in Rio just to ease yourself in to it. Apart from big cities and maybe festival weekends you'll be able to just show up most places and get something - guidebooks are usually so out of date that places have closed by the time you get there. I noticed in Peru that on the buses leaving one city for another people would come on the bus with flyers for hostels in the next city and a lot of buses are met by hostels workers with mini buses to take you there.

Can't help you with Inca trek I'm afraid - I went at that time of year by train and it rained non stop for a week. People I knew did the trek and hated it - it was physically tough and misty so they only saw a few metres in front of them. By the time they got to MP they just wanted to sleep in a bed and have a shower. I took the bus to Ollantaytambo, explored the ruins there and took a late night train to Agua Calientes then got the early bus to MP and was there before sunrise and had a great day. Most of the trekers had gone home by midday because they were exhausted and the rest of tourists were gone by 2pm to catch train back to Cusco - I stayed until 4pm, had a little picnic with some of the staff and stayed the night in Agua Calientes before getting the 6am train back to cusco. I;ll probably get shot for saying this but I think the Inca Trail is over hyped and there are lots of other nicer trails to go on.

Yeah il book Rio in advance I think, just to be safe. I dont think il be doing the actual Inca trail, I was thinking the Salkantay instead as its cheaper and we dont need to book in advance. Im not 100% sure when il make it to Cusco so I cant book the Inca Trail anyway. Seeing a few metres in front sounds fairly miserable. Il have to think a bit more about it.

When you took the train up were the views etc pretty good or was it cloudy and that?

WilcoOut

mac123 wrote: »

Two quick questions:

1. Hostels - Im arriving in Rio in mid September. Should I be looking at booking a hostel in advance. I was on hostelworld yesterday and a few places seemed to be booked up already. Its a weekend so maybe thats the reason.

If so is this the case for most places or can I just show up and find somewhere for the most part?

2. Cusco/Machu Pichu - Im going to be in Peru by late Nov/early Dec. Now this seems to be the worst time of year for the inca trail. Apparently Jan is the only month wetter than Dec so im just wondering if anyone has any experience being there this time of year? Also im thinking of doing the Salkantay trek instead...anyone done both? Opinions?

Cheers...

Hostel prices are sky high between the 22nd and 25th of September due to the 'Rock in Rio' festival

just for your info

WilcoOut

also, how much are you bugeting?

im heading later this year myself and id love to know how much ill need

Meathlass

mac123 wrote: »

Yeah il book Rio in advance I think, just to be safe. I dont think il be doing the actual Inca trail, I was thinking the Salkantay instead as its cheaper and we dont need to book in advance. Im not 100% sure when il make it to Cusco so I cant book the Inca Trail anyway. Seeing a few metres in front sounds fairly miserable. Il have to think a bit more about it.

When you took the train up were the views etc pretty good or was it cloudy and that?

Views were amazing - i got a few of the photos made into large canvas prints and everyone comments on them. All very weather dependent though - if you're not in a rush you could just wait for a nice day like I did and get train then.

mac123

WilcoOut wrote: »

also, how much are you bugeting?

im heading later this year myself and id love to know how much ill need

Im not staying in Rio for too long, I get there on the 15th so I wont still be there for that. Thanks for the heads up though!

Im budgeting about a grand a month but from looking at prices Brazil, Argentina and Chile will be more than that but il compensate in the cheaper countries.

Also im not planning on drinking every night like I have on other trips.

What sort of budget were you looking at?

mac123

Meathlass wrote: »

Views were amazing - i got a few of the photos made into large canvas prints and everyone comments on them. All very weather dependent though - if you're not in a rush you could just wait for a nice day like I did and get train then.

Thanks...well I might do that, im not booking anything in advance so at least il have the freedom to take the train instead of a trek when I get there.

WilcoOut

mac123 wrote: »

What sort of budget were you looking at?

im hoping to get by on 3grand for 3months

my inca trail is not included in tha, as iv already boxed that off. so that will keep a tiny bit of pressure off

reckon i can do it on 3g's?!

mac123

WilcoOut wrote: »

im hoping to get by on 3grand for 3months

my inca trail is not included in tha, as iv already boxed that off. so that will keep a tiny bit of pressure off

reckon i can do it on 3g's?!

Sure hope so. Im kind of counting on getting by on that amount at the max. Anyway we shall see, only 7 weeks to go for me;)

dory

Yea, you can definitely do it on 3,000. Just watch your money a bit.

ellie2

I was in rio in january - found it really expensive. Definitely book hostel in advance.

Did inca trail start of december- like you i was worried about the rain. we had drizzle on first day and heavy rain on day 3 for a bout an hour. Got to macchu pichu and clear sky and sun shine. we were so lucky, it was amazing. For me the sense of achievement getting there was brilliant. The mist and cloud a times adds to the spiritual impact of the inca trail As someone else said deffo go to ollantambayo - amazing place. have a ball.

matrim

Just a note of warning for Peru (and Bolivia), AIB's laser card doesn't work there so either make sure to have cash or a Mastercard / Visa so you can take it out.

I think BOI might be the same but you should check that.

HBK

Heading over myself in mid September.
Starting in Ecuador, has anyone here does the Galapogos?

I knwo its fairly expensive but what did it cost people, and more importantly..is it worth it?

sarkozy

matrim wrote: »

Just a note of warning for Peru (and Bolivia), AIB's laser card doesn't work there so either make sure to have cash or a Mastercard / Visa so you can take it out.

I think BOI might be the same but you should check that.

Can confirm this for Bolivía and Perú, also for Lebanon. AIB and BoI Mastercard works fine, though. However, Visa does not charge a fee for cash advances in Argentina (good to know).

WilcoOut

does everywhere in S.A accept USD?

imme

WilcoOut wrote: »

does everywhere in S.A accept USD?

it's accepted pretty much everywhere, you mightn't always get the best exchange rte, check out what it should be worth in advance of exchanging/paying.

The exception to the above is Ecuador, where the only legal tender is the mighty Dollar. They dollarized back in 2002 or so, after their own currency (the sucre) went through the floor, then the basement.

It's strange paying in Dollars when you're there. I was converting back to Euro to see if I was being charged ok. It's strange paying in Dollars in a country other than the US imo. In the US the Dollar has a value that I can understand and that is generally the same throughout the country.

But when it's used in totally different economy it's almost difficult to figure for some reason.

imme

HBK wrote: »

Heading over myself in mid September.
Starting in Ecuador, has anyone here does the Galapogos?

I knwo its fairly expensive but what did it cost people, and more importantly..is it worth it?

Some people will tell you that it's worth it and some people that it's overpriced and not worth it.

The flights from S America from Ecuador with various companies (Guayaquil, Quito) are roughly the same price throughout the year. Flights with LAN Chile from a couple of S American locations are pretty much the same.

So even though there appears to be competition on the routes the prices don't bear that out.

Cruises/Tours/Packages don't come cheap.

You will have to pay a tax to enter the Islands as they're considered a National Park, it was $100 in 2010, it was to double in 2011, but I haven't been able to confirm that it has doubled.

You'll also have to pay an airport tax if you fly from an Ecuadorian airport:


from http://www.metropolitan-touring.com/content.asp?id_page=3072
"Increase in Airport Tax Guayaquil

Effective January 2011 guests leaving Ecuador through the Guayaquil International Airport will pay the new rate for Airport Tax: US$30.16.

This new amount to be paid for the services provided by the Jose Joaquin de Olmedo International Airport in Guayaquil includes US$5.00 for the Direction of Civil Aviation (DAC).

For the Mariscal Sucre Airport in Quito, the airport departure tax remains the same - US$40.80."


I don't know that so much human traffic to the islands is doing any good for the biodiversity and special position of the islands that people go there to see.

Some of the people in the tourist industry on the islands or just in business are not the most welcoming of people.
Their money grubbing attitude is some times distasteful and can take the shine of the trip.

The number of flashy and crazy big 4x4's that they drive is breathtaking.

That said they are a special place.
Ecuador in general though is a country of incredible bio diversity.

You can see many birds, butterflies, monkeys etc etc on mainland Ecuador without having to take an overpriced flight and overpriced trip to the Galapagos.

HBK

imme wrote: »

Some people will tell you that it's worth it and some people that it's overpriced and not worth it.

The flights from S America from Ecuador with various companies (Guayaquil, Quito) are roughly the same price throughout the year. Flights with LAN Chile from a couple of S American locations are pretty much the same.

So even though there appears to be competition on the routes the prices don't bear that out.

Cruises/Tours/Packages don't come cheap.

You will have to pay a tax to enter the Islands as they're considered a National Park, it was $100 in 2010, it was to double in 2011, but I haven't been able to confirm that it has doubled.

You'll also have to pay an airport tax if you fly from an Ecuadorian airport:


from http://www.metropolitan-touring.com/content.asp?id_page=3072
"Increase in Airport Tax Guayaquil

Effective January 2011 guests leaving Ecuador through the Guayaquil International Airport will pay the new rate for Airport Tax: US$30.16.

This new amount to be paid for the services provided by the Jose Joaquin de Olmedo International Airport in Guayaquil includes US$5.00 for the Direction of Civil Aviation (DAC).

For the Mariscal Sucre Airport in Quito, the airport departure tax remains the same - US$40.80."


I don't know that so much human traffic to the islands is doing any good for the biodiversity and special position of the islands that people go there to see.

Some of the people in the tourist industry on the islands or just in business are not the most welcoming of people.
Their money grubbing attitude is some times distasteful and can take the shine of the trip.

The number of flashy and crazy big 4x4's that they drive is breathtaking.

That said they are a special place.
Ecuador in general though is a country of incredible bio diversity.

You can see many birds, butterflies, monkeys etc etc on mainland Ecuador without having to take an overpriced flight and overpriced trip to the Galapagos.

Hi Imme,

The info is Much appreciated!
I think were going to play it by ear, wait until we get there, see if its affordable then!
Wit all the other places to visit, it may be just aswell to leave it out!
You have obviously been to SA before? Did you do the Galapagos, and would you say its worth it?

jobless

HBK wrote: »

Heading over myself in mid September.
Starting in Ecuador, has anyone here does the Galapogos?

I kno its fairly expensive but what did it cost people, and more importantly..is it worth it?

we just did the galapagos 2 weeks ago.... i had the same worries as you but it was definately worth the expense, its an amazing place...im so glad i did it!
its like no other place on earth!

we did the most basic tour and it cost us 700 dollars, 5 days 4 nights, the flight is 260 euro..
on top of that is a 110 dollars taxes.. (it increases to 200 next year)...we did other days trips so in total around 1100-1200 euro..... a lot of money but worth it for the once in a lifetime experience...

boat was basic enough but fine, meals were nice

HBK

jobless wrote: »

we just did the galapagos 2 weeks ago.... i had the same worries as you but it was definately worth the expense, its an amazing place...im so glad i did it!
its like no other place on earth!

we did the most basic tour and it cost us 700 dollars, 5 days 4 nights, the flight is 260 euro..
on top of that is a 110 dollars taxes.. (it increases to 200 next year)...we did other days trips so in total around 1100-1200 euro..... a lot of money but worth it for the once in a lifetime experience...

boat was basic enough but fine, meals were nice

Cheers for that jobless!
I can tell you def enjoyed it? Where are you off to next?

What we will do is, see the exact amount available when we leave, and make the final decision when we get there I think

amberhues

Re: Galapagos
Went there 2009 and I would definitely say its worth it. We booked a boat tour in Quito. There are lots of agents so shop around. You can get some good last minute deals too where they drop the price if the boats not full - that's what we did. Travelled on the Yolita II. I can't remember the price - but I wouldn't have been on a big budget. But it was a lovely boat, and well run at that time anyway. We stayed by the beach in Puerto Villamil on Isabella for a few days too - really nice for a bit of R&R. Did the day trip up Sierra Negra on horse back too.
Two words of warning. If you're booking a boat trip - have a good google on the boat. Sometimes they just change their names if they're getting bad reviews. Also if you're planning on getting the speed boats between the islands, its a pretty rough trip. If you're in anyway prone to sea sickness you might need to dose up for it.

jobless

HBK wrote: »

Cheers for that jobless!
I can tell you def enjoyed it? Where are you off to next?

What we will do is, see the exact amount available when we leave, and make the final decision when we get there I think

yeah i really enjoyed it... on the final stretch now of hol in brazil...
if you can stretch to the cost then try to go, you might get it cheaper in sept as it isnt peak season then... we went from guayaquil...

you know when you get there your gonna do it though

other places in ecuador we liked were cotopaxi national park, banos, peurto lopez (purely for whale watching, we saw six in one afternoon!), ecuador really is an amazing place and people so friendly..

if you do go to the galapagos stock up on sea sickness tablets as said above...they are called mareol and quite cheap to buy in ecuador.

pm me if you need any other info

HBK

jobless wrote: »

yeah i really enjoyed it... on the final stretch now of hol in brazil...
if you can stretch to the cost then try to go, you might get it cheaper in sept as it isnt peak season then... we went from guayaquil...

you know when you get there your gonna do it though

other places in ecuador we liked were cotopaxi national park, banos, peurto lopez (purely for whale watching, we saw six in one afternoon!), ecuador really is an amazing place and people so friendly..

if you do go to the galapagos stock up on sea sickness tablets as said above...they are called mareol and quite cheap to buy in ecuador.

pm me if you need any other info

Awesome thanks Jobless...I may be in touch again

Trippie

On the trek front, I did the lost city in colombia followed by couple days in parque tayrona and it was incredible. not sure when you will be in colombia but it is a valid option if inca trail isnt possible

xabi_a

Just on the Rio hostel front: I'd agree that booking a few days is a good idea.

There's a bunch of hostels all together in a little alley in Ipanema. I'd recommend taking one of them - it's one of the safer areas of Rio, and near a great beach. And the fact that they're all together like this means you can hang outside with a drink in the evenings and meet lots of fellow travelers.