Peru-Bolivia 2017: A Month in the Andes (page 7 of 8)

Hi Bruno, Here’s a story that’s all the more interesting since my partner and I are planning the same trip for October 2018. I’ve been reading a lot about Peru (safety concerns, mafia issues, all kinds of challenges, especially access to Machu Picchu), so we’re considering going through a tour operator—which is *not* our usual style. Is it really that difficult to organize a trip in this country? Just to clarify, neither my partner nor I speak Spanish, which could add another layer of difficulty. Thanks for the insights.

Hi Sonia! Nearly 4 million foreigners visited Peru in 2016, with a good number of them traveling independently. If you're used to organizing your vacations on your own, you'll manage just fine... even without fluent Spanish (though do try to pick up some basics—it's an easy language for French speakers!). 🙂

Hi Sonia, The Swiss guy beat me to it (the irony! 😉), but he’s right: Nothing’s easier than planning a trip to Peru, especially since you’re used to it... Transportation is efficient, even if it’s "Peruvian-style," accommodation is plentiful, and prices are affordable (except for Machu Picchu!).

October is low season, so no worries about overcrowding. You can plan everything as you go—just like I did during my trip, even though it was during South American holidays... I even booked Machu Picchu myself while my host recommended an agency (saved $300!). That said, a little immersion in Catalan lands before then could be really useful! 😛, but even there, they get by just fine with English... So keep going with your plans—no need to fatten up a tour operator—and enjoy your freedom... with just a little prep, of course. That’s what we’re here for!

On the other hand, a deep dive into Catalan lands in the meantime could be really useful for you! 😛

Oh really, they speak Catalan there now? 😏

I thought Swiss precision was only about time—now it’s lexical too... "In Spanish lands" would’ve been more appropriate, even though Catalans also speak Spanish 😉

Hi! It’s really interesting to read about your trip. We arrive on Friday the 18th in Lima, then Arequipa for 2 days, Colca Canyon for 2 days from Chivay solo (shared taxi if possible). For the rest, we’ll do the classic visits up to the Salar, leaving from Tupiza, all by bus and booking day by day (for Machu Picchu??). We’ll see how it goes.

Could you please share the address of the restaurant with ceviche and lobster in Lima?

Returning Lima-Paris on September 25th.

Hi Elsa, Seems like this restaurant is really popular! Someone already asked me about it in another thread, but I can definitely give it a shout-out here: 1. Do you remember the name of the restaurant in Lima that serves lobster ceviche?

After some digging (I kept all my notes!), here’s the answer: it’s "El Mirador de Chabuca," Calle Santa 137, just behind Plaza de Armas. A place that doesn’t look like much, mostly frequented by locals—we loved it!

For anything else, don’t hesitate to tap into my (limited) experience. You’ll see, the trip is magical!!

I’m just back from 3 weeks in Peru and Bolivia with my wife and our 16-year-old teen. Everything went really well. I organized the whole trip from France on my own without any issues. Happy to answer any questions!

I just got back from 3 weeks in Peru and Bolivia with my wife and our 16-year-old teen. Everything went really well. I organized everything from France on my own without any issues. Happy to answer any questions

Hi,

What was your itinerary for those 3 weeks?

Thanks

Hi Bruno, I just read your post, and since I’m in the middle of planning my upcoming trip, I was wondering if 6 weeks in Peru and Bolivia would be enough to visit, relax, and take my time. Did you fly into Lima from Lyon or Paris? We’re thinking of arriving in Peru in April 2018—is that a good time? Thanks in advance for any suggestions! Have a great day, Eliane

Hi Eliane, We did our trip in a month without rushing. Two extra weeks would let you take your time and settle in even more. We left from Paris for financial reasons (cheaper than from Geneva, and we almost never leave from Lyon). But in the end, the delay in Atlanta made us miss the TGV, so it was a wash that made me decide not to leave from Paris for future trips. To figure it out, do some simulations on flight search sites by changing the departure city and including the cost of getting there. For the timing, I can’t say—I’d check the "when to go" site for an idea.

Hi Bruno,

We bought our flight tickets this week—we’ll be in Peru in July for 21 days. I’ve been reading your posts with great interest. Don’t hold back on the details; it’s really fascinating, and I’m taking notes.

Thanks Nathalie for your interest in this travel journal, it’s great to know it’s being read! For the details, don’t hesitate to ask... And most of all, have a great trip!

Hello everyone, I’m heading to Peru in November, then Bolivia, then Chile... I’ve seen that crossing the Bolivia-Chile border is pretty much impossible. But my question is: is it possible to rent a car in Lima to visit Peru, and do the same for Bolivia? And since it’s not possible to drop off the vehicle at a different location (point B), can I return it to Lima? Is it possible to use the same vehicle for both Peru and Bolivia? Thank you so much for your help—I’ve read everything and its opposite on the forums and I’m totally lost. Best, Yann from Nice

Hi Yann, Welcome to this site—you’ll find all your answers here! First off, thanks for sharing this travel journal; it might inspire others.... For your question, I’ll echo the advice you’ve probably already gotten: driving can be pretty intense in these countries, and I can confirm that the bus networks are perfect, both economically and logistically. But if that’s your choice, no worries. I don’t have expertise in renting vehicles in Peru, but I just did a quick check on Rentalcars and had no problem booking a car in Lima and dropping it off in Cusco, for example. So, like in many countries, you should be able to rent at point A and return at point B—just make sure to check the drop-off fees in advance, as they’re often very high and not clearly stated in online contracts (or written in tiny print). As for taking the same vehicle between Peru and Bolivia, that seems impossible. Renting in Lima and returning to Lima would be crazy—you’d waste so much time on the kilometers.... Also, be careful in Bolivia if you plan to visit Salar de Uyuni and Sud Lípez. Renting a vehicle there is nearly impossible unless it’s a specially equipped 4x4 (extra fuel tanks, spare tires, etc.). Most people do the tour through a local operator unless you’re really experienced with that kind of self-drive trip.

I encourage you to use the site’s search bar to ask all your questions—many answers are already there.

Hope this helps clear your path—happy travels!

A thousand thanks, Bruno! I’ll keep digging, then… Thanks so much for taking the time for me and for such a thorough reply. Have a great evening

Hi Yannice, I went last summer with my whole family (6 of us in total) to Latin America—Chile, Bolivia, and Peru. To answer your questions, I’d advise against renting a car because their driving is really particular 🤪—they don’t know right-of-way rules or priorities at all! Pedestrians aren’t prioritized either 🙁. It’s the law of the quickest and the horn, except in Lima, where it’s like back home. We didn’t have any issues crossing borders on foot. We opted for a car with a driver or buses that sometimes also acted as guides and cooks (which was excellent, by the way). Basically, they drop you off at the border, you get out, wait in a short line at the checkpoint, and then a few meters away, the other driver is waiting for you. So no, cars can’t cross from one country to another. Overnight buses are great and save time (dinner served on board, toilets, and seats that recline). Often, the distances are too long to drive, so people take flights, which aren’t very expensive 😉, and at the arrival airport, there’s a very efficient shuttle service. Have a great trip and happy planning!

Hi there. If you feel like following me on another trip, check it out here: https://voyageforum.com/v.f?post=10306223;#10306223

Hi everyone! For this forum comeback and if you're still a fan of my writing , I've just started:

https://voyageforum.com/forum/laos-cambodge-2023-retour-en-asie-mois-d10564571/

Hi there, Thanks so much for your help. Your stories have been super useful for planning my trip. Wishing you a happy 2025 with more amazing destinations around the world. Line