bassmaster150 Posted December 22, 2017 #1 Share Posted December 22, 2017 probably should have started this thread last week when we landed in Lima, Peru. We are currently on the Emerald Princess sailing out of San Antonio, Chile (Santiago). We spent the first five days of our vacation on the Princess Machu Picchu Explorer Tour, and it was absolutely incredible. Hats off to our tour coordinater who kept all 16 of our group on time in every plane, bus, train, and hotel that we stayed in. We have never been a part of something so well coordinated. I can answer any questions that you have about that Tour, the Emerald Princess, or the South America ininerary as it unfolds for us over the next 12 days. One important note that we were not aware of having not sailed out of Chile before....when you check in, you have to give your passport to the Princess people and they keep it until the end of the cruise. If you have any questions, ask away and I will answer them in between shore excursions. :-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Keith1010 Posted December 22, 2017 #2 Share Posted December 22, 2017 Glad you enjoyed the Machu Picchu tour. Enjoy the cruise and look forward to your posts. Where does your cruise end? Also, what are your port stops? Keith Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul929207 Posted December 22, 2017 #3 Share Posted December 22, 2017 Machu Picchu is truly one of the worlds most awesome sights Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wildblue Posted December 22, 2017 #4 Share Posted December 22, 2017 Machu Picchu is pretty much the last thing remaining on my bucket list. Glad you enjoyed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
calvin31 Posted December 22, 2017 #5 Share Posted December 22, 2017 Can you tell us about the land tour portion? Did u feel rushed at all? Did u have enough time to see everything you wanted to see? Any hiking on the Inca Trail? Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thinfool Posted December 22, 2017 #6 Share Posted December 22, 2017 One important note that we were not aware of having not sailed out of Chile before....when you check in, you have to give your passport to the Princess people and they keep it until the end of the cruise. As you expand your cruising experience beyond the Caribbean and Alaska you will find that this is not unusual. And it applies across all cruise lines, not just Princess. (y) Curious...how much was the Machu Picchu addon to your itinerary? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AF-1 Posted December 22, 2017 #7 Share Posted December 22, 2017 who is the current cruise director? I had Cory in July Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bassmaster150 Posted December 22, 2017 Author #8 Share Posted December 22, 2017 Glad you enjoyed the Machu Picchu tour. Enjoy the cruise and look forward to your posts. Where does your cruise end? Also, what are your port stops? Keith Cruise ends in Buenos Aires. Itinerary should be as follows: Dec 20 - San Antonio, Chile (embark) Dec 21 - Sea day Dec 22 - Puerto Mott Dec 23 - Sea Day Dec 24 - Amalia Glacier/Sea Day Dec 25 - Punta Arenas Dec 26 - Ushuaia Dec 27 - Cape Horn/Sea Day Dec 28 - Falkland Islands Dec 29 - Sea Day Dec 30 - Puerto Madryn Dec 31 - Sea Day Jan 1 - Montevideo Jan 2 - Buenos Aires (Day 1) Jan 3 - Buenos Aires (Day 2) disembark Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bassmaster150 Posted December 22, 2017 Author #9 Share Posted December 22, 2017 Machu Picchu is truly one of the worlds most awesome sights Yes, you definitely speak the truth....and it really is a tale of two different cities because it is way more awesome in the early morning than in the afternoon. We were able to view it at both times. In the early morning, you get the clouds ascending from the jungle below up and over the site....simply stunning. Of all the places my wife and I have been too, this is the top of the list!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poppymum Posted December 22, 2017 #10 Share Posted December 22, 2017 Really interested to hear about your cruise ... I do the cruise in reverse BA to San Antonio in January. Any tips and views on ports, excursions etc will be eagerly received. Most of all: I hope you really enjoy the cruise! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bassmaster150 Posted December 22, 2017 Author #11 Share Posted December 22, 2017 Machu Picchu is pretty much the last thing remaining on my bucket list. Glad you enjoyed. Make sure you make the time to go early in the morning as well...as I stated in my previous reply, it is way more stunning in the early morning Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bassmaster150 Posted December 22, 2017 Author #12 Share Posted December 22, 2017 Can you tell us about the land tour portion? Did u feel rushed at all? Did u have enough time to see everything you wanted to see? Any hiking on the Inca Trail? Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Land tour was extremely well coordinated and was absolutely amazing. We had an amazing tour coordinator and a top notch guide for the sacred valley and Machu Picchu who was extremely knowledgeable. They did a great job acclimatizing is to the altitude of Machu Picchu as well. We never felt rushed at Machu Picchu. In a few other sites we did, but not Machu Picchu as we had a day and a half at the site. We had more than enough time to see everything. As a matter of fact, my wife and I actually tried something rather crazy on day one. We hiked to the end of the Inca trail (the Inca bridge), then turned around and attempted to hike all the way up to The Sun Gate along another portion of the trail. We made it about 3/4 of the way to the Sun Gate before a rather loud clap of thunder instructed us to turn around immediately, so we did. You will have a lot of time to explore. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gretchendz Posted December 22, 2017 #13 Share Posted December 22, 2017 Thanks so much--we are doing this in March (except it is the 2 day version). Did you take any pills or anything for altitude sickness? How strenuous is it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bassmaster150 Posted December 22, 2017 Author #14 Share Posted December 22, 2017 As you expand your cruising experience beyond the Caribbean and Alaska you will find that this is not unusual. And it applies across all cruise lines, not just Princess. (y) Curious...how much was the Machu Picchu addon to your itinerary? Agreed.....we just never had to do that across all of Europe when we cruised here. Cost - if I remember correctly, I think it was like $3k per person additional....it may have been a little less though. That included the following: Flights: Lima to Cusco, Cusco to Lima, Lima to Santiago Hotels: one night Lima (we extended), two nights in Sacred Valley (amazing hotel), one night in Aguas Calientes (great hotel), one night in Cusco, and one night in Santiago. Park passes: a day and a half in Machu Picchu, and several other sites that are too long for me to type their names Train tickets: from Valley to Aguas Calientes, from Aguas Calientes to Valley Food: more than you could eat in a lifetime Other: bag storage services, all tips (we still tipped our guides and coordinator), busses, porters, etc. It was a well put together itinerary and was executed with almost military precision. We had to worry about nothing other than being on time at the places we were told to be. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bassmaster150 Posted December 22, 2017 Author #15 Share Posted December 22, 2017 who is the current cruise director? I had Cory in July Duke Christopher Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bassmaster150 Posted December 22, 2017 Author #16 Share Posted December 22, 2017 Really interested to hear about your cruise ... I do the cruise in reverse BA to San Antonio in January. Any tips and views on ports, excursions etc will be eagerly received. Most of all: I hope you really enjoy the cruise! Will do. We went up the Osorno Volcano today in Puerto Mott....dense fog and heavy snow so you couldn’t see anything. Probably not the best tour based upon weather but will keep you posted. Christmas Day is probably the pinnacle of the cruise portion of the trip as we will be in Torres del Paine...which is a bucket list item Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bassmaster150 Posted December 22, 2017 Author #17 Share Posted December 22, 2017 Thanks so much--we are doing this in March (except it is the 2 day version). Did you take any pills or anything for altitude sickness? How strenuous is it? No altitude pills for us as the tour is run in such a way as to acclimatize you along the way. You spend a day and a half at altitude before you descend down into Machu Picchu (Cusco is at 11,500 ft....Machu Picchu is at 8,000 feet). Hopefully you have Rocio as your Coordinator and Juan Oscar as your tour guide...they are priceless...absolutely amazing!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bassmaster150 Posted December 22, 2017 Author #18 Share Posted December 22, 2017 Thanks so much--we are doing this in March (except it is the 2 day version). Did you take any pills or anything for altitude sickness? How strenuous is it? It’s as easy or as strenuous as you want it to be. They take you through the side in the late morning and then you go get lunch outside of the park. Then you go back in and up a little higher for the “National Geographic” views. Once you are doing me with that, you get free time to do whatever. My wife and I made it super strenuous as we decided to hike to the Inca bridge (not for the faint of heart as you are way up high on a narrow trail....but the views are spectacular), then we turned around and hiked back to Machu Picchu and then 3/4 of the way up to The Sun Gate on the Inca trail that leads into the park....that was hard....but the view was worth it...and remember, no matter how tired you are, go back up in the early morning...you will be glad you did as you watch the clouds rise up from the valley into the park Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul929207 Posted December 22, 2017 #19 Share Posted December 22, 2017 Yes, you definitely speak the truth....and it really is a tale of two different cities because it is way more awesome in the early morning than in the afternoon. We were able to view it at both times. In the early morning, you get the clouds ascending from the jungle below up and over the site....simply stunning. Of all the places my wife and I have been too, this is the top of the list!!! We arrived from Cusco at the bottom of MP for lunch. We then spent the afternoon and early evening at the site. It was pretty empty since most tours arrive mid morning and leave mid afternoon. We got up early the next morning to see sunrise over MP. It was amazing. We came down about noon, had lunch and started the trip back to Cusco. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clarea Posted December 23, 2017 #20 Share Posted December 23, 2017 Nice start, will be following. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mkbanny Posted December 23, 2017 #21 Share Posted December 23, 2017 We’re doing the trip but in reverse in 11 days so we are excited to follow your journey. We too are concerned about the altitude in cusco but it sounds like they have it well covered. I assume if you need oxygen it’s readily available.? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aus Traveller Posted December 23, 2017 #22 Share Posted December 23, 2017 I was on a group tour of South America in 2010. When we arrived at Cusco airport we could immediately feel the lack of oxygen and had to walk up stairs much more slowly. At the hotel we were offered cocoa tea that is supposed to alleviate the symptoms of oxygen deprivation. I had several cups. In our group of around 40 people, only two had some problems with the altitude although some of us needed to take it a bit easy on stairs etc. until we acclimatized. When we were at Lake Titicaca (higher again than Cusco) one lady asked for oxygen which was readily available. I should mention that she has only one lung. By the way, she didn't have a problem in Cusco. As has been mentioned, Machu Picchu is at a lower altitude than Cusco and it was a breeze. None of the people on my tour took the tablets to help with the altitude, although some people on the plane did. If this issue really worries you, I suggest you speak to your doctor to see if he/she feels you need and tablets and what any side effects might be. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
riclop Posted December 24, 2017 #23 Share Posted December 24, 2017 Thanks for sharing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bassmaster150 Posted December 24, 2017 Author #24 Share Posted December 24, 2017 We’re doing the trip but in reverse in 11 days so we are excited to follow your journey. We too are concerned about the altitude in cusco but it sounds like they have it well covered. I assume if you need oxygen it’s readily available.? I know at Aguas Calientes they offer it if needed. One thing that worked really well....and was provided on the bus...was hard candy. Don't know why, but it made the altitude change easier to tolerate the first day. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bassmaster150 Posted December 24, 2017 Author #25 Share Posted December 24, 2017 I was on a group tour of South America in 2010. When we arrived at Cusco airport we could immediately feel the lack of oxygen and had to walk up stairs much more slowly. At the hotel we were offered cocoa tea that is supposed to alleviate the symptoms of oxygen deprivation. I had several cups. In our group of around 40 people, only two had some problems with the altitude although some of us needed to take it a bit easy on stairs etc. until we acclimatized. When we were at Lake Titicaca (higher again than Cusco) one lady asked for oxygen which was readily available. I should mention that she has only one lung. By the way, she didn't have a problem in Cusco. As has been mentioned, Machu Picchu is at a lower altitude than Cusco and it was a breeze. None of the people on my tour took the tablets to help with the altitude, although some people on the plane did. If this issue really worries you, I suggest you speak to your doctor to see if he/she feels you need and tablets and what any side effects might be. Agreed Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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