HAL Machu Picchu Excursion

[Rustee]

Would like to read a review from anyone who is going to be on the 2nd November cruise out of San Diego to Lima return and is going to participate in the excursion to Machu Picchu offered by HAL (2nights/3days). Will be interested in the amount of time spent at the ruins. Also the arrival and departure times at MP by train. Was there enough time to enjoy the ruins.

Look forward to your comments in a few weeks.

[maxout]

You would have better luck posting and looking through the threads in the South America ports of call forum located here...

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/forumdisplay.php?f=76

[Cruzin Terri]

HAL's tour is very expensive and gives you minimal time at the site. You can do much better on your own. It just takes some research and planning.

You will be able to spend more time at the site and do the excursion for a fraction of the cost.

Terri

[cruz chic]

HAL's tour is very expensive and gives you minimal time at the site. You can do much better on your own. It just takes some research and planning.

You will be able to spend more time at the site and do the excursion for a fraction of the cost.

Terri

 

That is true but it seems that the OP is there for a limited time i.e. not beginning or ending a cruise from there. I have heard that transportation in not reliable there so it "could be" risky.

 

OP, enjoy the cruise. I did a cruise similar to that in 2008. It was amazing!

[Floridiana]

If your cruise starts or ends in Lima, it is indeed much better to do the trip separately. I felt there was much more to see than just Machu Pichu even if it was the highlight. We spent a week in Cusco and the Sacred Valley. I lost a day to altitude sickness which was perfectly treated by a private local clinic. We also had a day of rest in Ollantaytambo with its marvelous terraced ruins.

 

If a cruise excursion is your only chance to go there, just do it.

[Cruzin Terri]

That is true but it seems that the OP is there for a limited time i.e. not beginning or ending a cruise from there. I have heard that transportation in not reliable there so it "could be" risky.

 

OP, enjoy the cruise. I did a cruise similar to that in 2008. It was amazing!

 

I did it independently from the ship at a fraction of the cost. It takes some work and planning. It depends on how much time you want to spend doing that. I used another travel company that put us up in 5* hotels and gave us more than a comparable experience. It was a tour designed for just for us. We also had the restrictions of getting back to the ship. It can be done.

Terri

[cruz chic]

I did it independently from the ship at a fraction of the cost. It takes some work and planning. It depends on how much time you want to spend doing that. I used another travel company that put us up in 5* hotels and gave us more than a comparable experience. It was a tour designed for just for us. We also had the restrictions of getting back to the ship. It can be done.

Terri

 

It's good to know it worked well. It would stress me out too much if I were to do it. More power to those that try to do it.

[plannermargy]

I would strongly recommend that you NOT take the HAL trip. We did it from the 2014 World Cruise and it was a disaster throughout. The HAL escorts were inadequate at best - one was from the shore excursions office and the other was a spouse of one of the ship's entertainers. NEITHER HAD EVER BEEN THERE BEFORE and were clueless about the trip or the needs of the people on the tour.

There was no time for getting used to the altitude, wake up calls were unnecessarily early, return to the hotel in Cusco was very, very late, and - most important - the time at the actual site was minimal. We viewed the ruins from afar, never getting close. Explanations were lacking and buying tourist junk seemed to be the most important priority.

DO IT ON YOUR OWN!

[Cruzin Terri]

The key to doing this trip correctly is to gradually adjust to the altitude. We stayed off the ship three nights. We flew into Cusco and immediately went down to the Sacred Valley and toured in that area, which is about 3000 feet lower in altitude. We stayed there that night.

The following day we went to Machu Picchu and spent the whole day at the ruins with a wonderful guide for just the two of us. We stayed at the Sanctuary Lodge right at the ruins that night.

 

The following day we left MP and went to Cusco for further touring at the highest altitude (11000 ft). We spent the night there and flew out the next morning, rejoining the ship.

 

This tour was tailored for the two of us by a local agency and we were met at the ship in Lima and delivered to the ship in Guayaquil.

 

It was first class all the way and for way less than HAL charged. We even stayed one extra day than the HAL excursion.

Our excursion was not inexpensive, but well worth the money. I would do it that way again in a heartbeat.

Terri

[KirkNC]

We are going next year and using a private company. We are doing a seven day trip that costs 50% of what HAL charges for three days.

[dadroy]

Check out this link. Not new, but informative. $8,000 for two?:eek:

 

Separate vacation me thinks.

[Cruzin Terri]

Check out this link. Not new, but informative. $8,000 for two?:eek:

 

Separate vacation me thinks.

 

No link

Terri

[dadroy]

Oops! I also send emails that are supposed to have attachments and forget to link them also.

 

This link is recent.

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2020430&highlight=machu

 

This one lists an older review

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1401140&highlight=machu

[OleSalt]

After looking at the ship price we decided to go on a separate arrangement. Went to MP and the Galapagos Is. total two weeks for much less. Trip of a lifetime! Strongly suggest you research. Everyone agreed it was smart to tour that way.

[FRANKIEDNYC]

We checked with travel agent in Pa and are able to book a 7 day Peru trip with 3 days at Cusco/Machu Pichu including ai fare for about the same price as the HAL excursion

[Rustee]

Thankyou for your replies. We will be cruising out of Santiago and stopping at Lima (Callao) for 3days/2nights giving us the chance to take the excursion. This will be our only chance to do this as there are many more places to see in this world. I am still interested in hearing from anyone on the November 2nd cruise who take this tour. The ship tour is the easiest and if anything unforseen happens the ship will be advised. Doing it yourself will be cheaper for sure and if all goes well there is no problem BUT if it does not what happens. All the replies advising to do it yourself while in port did not have to test this. Sorry plannermargy about your experience this year did you complain when back on board.

[Cruzin Terri]

Thankyou for your replies. We will be cruising out of Santiago and stopping at Lima (Callao) for 3days/2nights giving us the chance to take the excursion. This will be our only chance to do this as there are many more places to see in this world. I am still interested in hearing from anyone on the November 2nd cruise who take this tour. The ship tour is the easiest and if anything unforseen happens the ship will be advised. Doing it yourself will be cheaper for sure and if all goes well there is no problem BUT if it does not what happens. All the replies advising to do it yourself while in port did not have to test this. Sorry plannermargy about your experience this year did you complain when back on board.

 

Rusted,

We did it as an overland excursion from the ship independently as did many others. We planned for the possibility of missing the ship with the tour company. They were prepared to get us to the next port if needed. Remember, if your plane is delayed, most likely it will be the same plane as the ship's excursion. However, it is your call if you want to pay for HAL's overpriced tour just because you are afraid something may go wrong.

We did it independently and glad we did.

Terri

[Gail & Marty sailing away]

The key to doing this trip correctly is to gradually adjust to the altitude. We stayed off the ship three nights. We flew into Cusco and immediately went down to the Sacred Valley and toured in that area, which is about 3000 feet lower in altitude. We stayed there that night.

The following day we went to Machu Picchu and spent the whole day at the ruins with a wonderful guide for just the two of us. We stayed at the Sanctuary Lodge right at the ruins that night.

 

The following day we left MP and went to Cusco for further touring at the highest altitude (11000 ft). We spent the night there and flew out the next morning, rejoining the ship.

 

This tour was tailored for the two of us by a local agency and we were met at the ship in Lima and delivered to the ship in Guayaquil.

 

It was first class all the way and for way less than HAL charged. We even stayed one extra day than the HAL excursion.

Our excursion was not inexpensive, but well worth the money. I would do it that way again in a heartbeat.

Terri

This tour was tailored for the two of us by a local agency which one may I ask ..

[cruz chic]

Rusted,

We did it as an overland excursion from the ship independently as did many others. We planned for the possibility of missing the ship with the tour company. They were prepared to get us to the next port if needed. Remember, if your plane is delayed, most likely it will be the same plane as the ship's excursion. However, it is your call if you want to pay for HAL's overpriced tour just because you are afraid something may go wrong.

We did it independently and glad we did.

Terri

 

I totally understand the Ops fear. I know your post is trying to be helpful but I find it offensive when posts are very pushy about independent tours. Some people want the security of a hal excursion. You are not wired that way but you need to understand that some folks are. I'll pick comfort over money every time.

[plannermargy]

Yes we complained - in person and in writing. We received a form letter in reply but nothing else.

[Cruzin Terri]

This tour was tailored for the two of us by a local agency which one may I ask ..

 

I was under the impression we are not permitted to give out Travel Agency information on this forum. I would gladly provide it otherwise.

There is a link to my email below my signature.

 

Terri

[USN59-79]

I was under the impression we are not permitted to give out Travel Agency information on this forum. I would gladly provide it otherwise.

There is a link to my email below my signature.

 

Terri

 

Terri - While we are not permitted to mention our Travel Agencies, there are different rules for local tour guides. Here is what the guidelines say:

Tour Guide Recommendations:

We welcome the legitimate review or recommendation of tour operators, guides, property and business owners in ports of call. You must post your recommendation in response to a request for that specific information or your post will be removed without notice.

Cruise Critic considers requests to be e-mailed for additional information as soliciting and will delete those postings by anyone trying to sell or promote themselves on Cruise Critic.

So by trying to follow the guidelines, technically you are breaking them

[Tante Amalie]

Like most of their overnight excursions, this trip is WAY overpriced. Unless you simply want the bragging rights to say you've been there, that trip will leave you frustrated at how little you see relative to the time and expense involved. You can do much better on your own. It is a superficial exposure to the site if you take their trip. The only good thing you can say about it is that it is convenient. Try to resist the temptation and you will get much more out of your visit.

[Cruzin Terri]

Terri - While we are not permitted to mention our Travel Agencies, there are different rules for local tour guides. Here is what the guidelines say:

Tour Guide Recommendations:

We welcome the legitimate review or recommendation of tour operators, guides, property and business owners in ports of call. You must post your recommendation in response to a request for that specific information or your post will be removed without notice.

Cruise Critic considers requests to be e-mailed for additional information as soliciting and will delete those postings by anyone trying to sell or promote themselves on Cruise Critic.

So by trying to follow the guidelines, technically you are breaking them

 

So I'm Between the devil and the deep blue sea. Do what you wish. Also, this is mentioned on the roll call of March 19 2012 Veendam and the South America Board.

 

I am not soliciting any agency. If anyone wants the information there are ways to get it. There are many tour operators that run tours to Machu Picchu and they are reviewed on the South America ports of call board. I will not post it here on the HAL board.

Terri

[Juanita462]

We did some volunteer work in Lima one year and the local people arranged a trip to Machu Picchu through local travel agents - it was 2 flights, 2 nights hotel in Cuzco and the train trip to the site and a full day on Machu Picchu - all for $300. We did pay for our own meals. I was astonished at the cost of this trip through HAL. It would be more now, but not that much more!

 

A word of warning - do check with your doctor about altitude sickness before taking this tour - it is common up there and I had the worst headache of my life which even oxygen at the airport didn't help. The locals have some medication that does help but we could never find out what it was - it did help DH but my headache came on at the airport and the locals were gone.

 

I believe that Cuzco is at about 11,000 feet - we took a bus tour that went up to 14,000 feet and it was spectacular.