PERU' REPORT TRAVEL.

 

FLORIDA (USA)

 

Punctual as never before, my American Airlines Airplane leaves from Milan Malpensa at 9.40 in the direction of Lima (Peru), with a short one-day stopover in Miami (USA) (round trip price including taxes Euro 690.29).

In order to set foot in the United States of America, I had to complete the quick online ESTA procedure by paying $ 14 by credit card. Entry into the country valid for 2 years was approved by the system immediately after the end of the online procedure which lasted about 1 hour.

 

At Malpensa Airport instead, to get you on a flight departing for the USA, during the online check-in you are subjected to a series of questions about who packed the baggage, when, where did the last night stay, how many electronic devices carry with you, when you bought them, ect.

 

It is also not allowed to send baggage directly to the final destination, in my case Lima, but it must be unloaded at the transit airport, in my case Miami, for a border control and then boarded on the next flight.

 

At Miami International Airport, located just 5 km from downtown Miami (USA), baggage and entry controls are very thorough. Past the same I take to the outside of level 1 of Terminal E where there is a small shelter inside which you can take advantage of the automatic machines that issue tickets for the Tri Rail, which runs along the line from Miami to Mangonia Park. A one-way ride to Fort Lauderdale costs $ 5. From here the free bus no. 133 which runs at regular intervals takes you in just 10 minutes to Miami Airport Train Station, where a train leaves every half hour towards Mangonia Park, making many intermediate stops. For Fort Lauderdale, the same takes less than an hour. Of course, the aforementioned ticket machines are also available at all train stations. The ticket must not be stamped.

 

Back in Miami this time I get off at the Metrorail Transfer Train Station, where there is the connection for the Metrorail, which would be the Miami subway. The ticket costs $ 2.25 and can be bought at the machines. The same I allow to make only one run.

 

Then I get off at the Government Center stop where I take the free Metromover, which allows you to take a panoramic tour of the city and get off in the heart of Miami, which I visit on foot.

 

I return to Miami International Airport, using the following means of transport: Metromover, Metrorail, and the free Mia Mover Train.

 

PERU’ PART 1

 

 

Here I take the American Airlines night plane to Lima (Peru).

 

Security checks at Lima's Jorge Chàvez International Airport are quick and easy.

 

From Jorge Chàvez International Airport, located 20 km northwest of the tourist district of Miraflores in Lima, I take one of the many combos with the "S" on the windshield, for the price of S 3, which passes south along Av. Elmer Faucett , about 200 cmt. from the arrivals hall of the aforementioned airport. The journey takes about an hour and I spend most of it standing. The combi leaves me in Miraflores at 250 mt. about from the Mc Donald's of Ovalo. You pay when you go down or earlier if you prefer.

 

In Miraflores, rent a bicycle for the price of 30 S, for half a day, including lock and helmet from “Bike Tours of Lima” located in Via Bolivar 150.

 

There are endless police officers to ensure the safety of tourists and residents.

 

From Av. Petit Thouars, a few tens of meters north of the intersection with Av. Ricardo Palma, I take one of the many combos with the "S" on the windshield, for the price of S 3, which goes north. The journey takes about an hour. The combi leaves me in Av. Elmer Faucett, at 300 cmt. approximately from the arrivals hall of Jorge Chavez International Airport, located 20 km northwest of the tourist district of Miraflores in Lima.

PERU’ PART 2

 

There are countless agencies that offer the tourist bus to Puno at the price of 30 BOB. Departures are at 1.30pm and 6.30pm. This is also the safest and most comfortable solution to reach Puno in Peru also because the same awaits you during the operations to cross the easy border between Bolivia and Peru. Remember that you have to walk 300 meters. between the two borders and that it is more convenient to exchange money at the exchange on the Peruvian side.

 

This trip also offers enchanting landscapes. The bus arrives at the Puno Terrestrial Terminal, located about 1.5 km south of the center.

To reach the center you can either take the motor taxis stationed outside the terminal or you can take Via Tacna walking for about 400 meters. and from there stop one of the many Combi that continues to the center.

Puno can be easily explored on foot.

I sleep at the Inka's Rest hostel, located downtown in Pasaje S Carlos 158 in Puno for the price of 25 S per night including breakfast. Very comfortable and clean.

From the Inka's Rest hostel, located downtown in Pasaje S Carlos 158 in Puno, I walk for about 1 km to get to the port, where boats leave for some of the islands of Lake Titicaca.

I choose to visit the Islas Los Uros which are about 45 minutes by boat from Puno. The ferry leaves when it is full and is joined to arrive early in the morning as I did as it leaves when it is full of tourists and therefore difficult to fill up before nine in the morning. The ticket is made at the appropriate ticket office in the port and costs 10 S round trip as well as 5 S for the entrance to the Los Uros Islands, as well as 7 S for the transfer between a minor island and the capital with Islas Los Uros with a traditional boat.

The tour lasts half a day and allows you to have a unique experience on the floating islands inhabited by the locals who sell you their works of art.

Back at the Port of Puno I reach the Terrestrial Terminal on foot with a 15-minute walk, taking advantage of the beautiful lakefront.

From the Terrestrial Terminal there are several companies that offer almost every hour, for most of the day, trips of 6 hours to Cuzco for the price of 30 S, but the cheapest company (20 S) is Power which, however, makes many stops and therefore the journey, although comfortable because it is carried out with a double-decker bus, takes 8 hours.

The mandatory fee to be paid for the use of the Puno Terrestrial Terminal is 0.5 S. If you do not pay it, you cannot board any bus.

 

The Cusco land terminal is located about 2.5 km southeast of the city center. As written on a sign inside the terminal, in theory, a taxi ride to the center should cost 4 S, even though taxi drivers do everything to make tourists pay much more. In fact, mine asked me for 15 S to take me to Plaza San Francisco because it said it was 10pm and so there was a supplement. In the end, by bargaining, I gave him 10 S by sharing the cost with a German couple. Logically, for safety reasons, it is better to avoid buses and minibuses at least in the evening and only take official taxis with the sign with the telephone number on the roof as fake taxi drivers hide among others who then rob you.

In Cusco I sleep at the Pirwa Hostess, located in the very central Plaza S Francisco. A night in a dormitory, including free internet and breakfast, costs 20 S. The hostel in question is spotless, huge and very nice. Very friendly and helpful staff who also speak English.

Cusco is great on foot.

Minibuses to Ollantaytambo leave early in the morning until 11.00 pm from Calle Pavitos, just east of the intersection with Calle Lechugal, in Cusco, when they are full. The journey in the middle of the mountains offers enchanting landscapes, passing through the localities of Chinchero and Urabamba. The same takes about 1.5 hours and costs 10 S. Luggage is loaded on the roof. Minibuses run fast and are mostly used by locals. Few tourists who dare to take them. Of course, on the way you can get off when you want by asking the driver to stop. In Ollantaytambo you can get off at the Plaza de Armas or at the train station where trains leave for Machu Picchu.

 

The beautiful village of Ollantaytambo mt. 2,800, invaded by tourists from all over the world, can be easily explored on foot. The train station is located about 1km south of the center. From it there are tourist trains to Aguas Calientes (Machu Pichu) of 2 different companies: Inca rail and Peru Rail. While Inca Rail offers slightly cheaper fares (USD 114 round trip), Peru Rail has many more trains, some of which even reach Cusco. Logically there are the ticket offices of both companies near the train station but it is fair to reiterate that during the high season from June to September if you want to find a place on the train you must book either via the internet or through an agency at least 4 - 5 days in advance for do not risk staying on foot. Remember that there are many local trains that run this route every day at a cost of USD 6 round trip, but that foreigners cannot board these trains. The journey takes only an hour and 40 minutes and offers enchanting landscapes. On the train a drink and a snack is served, of course included in the price.

 

At the Aguas Calientes station an employee of the large Hospedaje Los Caminantes awaits me with a sign with my name on it to be recognized. I had booked by e_mail 2 weeks before. A single night costs only 20 S, without breakfast. It can be reached on foot in about 10 minutes.

 

Aguas Calientes mt. 2410 is a beautiful mountain village overrun by tourists and therefore full of hotels and restaurants. From the center depart from 5.30 in the morning until the afternoon, when they are full, the buses to Machu Picchu. The return ticket costs 54 S for tourists and 10 S for Peruvians and can be purchased at the ticket offices located adjacent to the bus stop in Via Hermanos Ayar. The 8 km uphill unpaved journey through the woods takes about half an hour.

 

Entrance to Machu Picchu costs about 40 S for locals and 124 S for foreigners. Logically the same can be purchased anywhere: in the ticket office of Machu Picchu, in Aguas Calientes, Ollantaytambo, Cuzco, Lima and via the internet. The only important thing to keep in mind is that the archaeological site in question contains a maximum of 2,500 people per day and therefore it is fair to reiterate that during the high season from June to September if you want to find a ticket you must book either via the internet or through agency at least 4 - 5 days in advance to avoid the risk of being left on foot.

 

The return to Cuzco takes place in the same way as the outward journey described above.

 

In Cusco I still sleep at the Pirwa Hostess, located in the very central Plaza S Francisco. A night in a dormitory including free internet and breakfast costs 20 S.

 

In the evening, I ask for a taxi from the aforementioned hostel at 5 in the morning to reach the Aeropuerto Internacional Alejandro Velasco Astete, located just 6 km southeast of the historic center of Cuzco. Fare 6 S.

 

There are 4 companies that hang out at this airport: Lan, Avianca, Star Peru and Peruvian Airlines. I chose the latter, the cheapest, to reach Lima for the price of $ 105, even if the minimum price is $ 50. This company operates the Cuzco - Lima route three times a day, but always with the same aircraft and in my case unfortunately it broke down and therefore I left 5 hours late. The journey takes just over an hour and offers enchanting landscapes.

My complete travel report with map, photographs and videos is available at this link:

http://vivendosalendo.blogspot.com/2016/12/viaggio-in-florida-peru-ecuador-e.html