Arrive Santiago - Leave 10 days later ... Where should we go?

[amaroo]

Argh! Just received notification that QF have changed the SYD-SCL schedule ... now need to change all land arrangements as our flight is now a day later :evil:

 

[kpc]

Argh! Just received notification that QF have changed the SYD-SCL schedule ... now need to change all land arrangements as our flight is now a day later :evil:

Nooo...can you ask QF to put you on the QF codeshare on Lan which is daily? You have a strong case given you have prebooked many things....or go a day or 2 earlier on the QF metal?

 

[amaroo]

Nooo...can you ask QF to put you on the QF codeshare on Lan which is daily? You have a strong case given you have prebooked many things....or go a day or 2 earlier on the QF metal?

Good news. We are now flying a day earlier ... need to think about where we'll spend the extra night. Sacred Valley, Cusco, Titilaka, Santiago, or ...

Have now lost the 4 class (1A/1K) bird over to SCL

 

[JohnM]

Good news. We are now flying a day earlier ... need to think about where we'll spend the extra night. Sacred Valley, Cusco, Titilaka, Santiago, or ...

Have now lost the 4 class (1A/1K) bird over to SCL

Phew! That's a relief!

Don't forget - the 4-class bird was not guaranteed (just trying to make you feel better ).

Not SCL would be my recommendation. Nothing wrong with it, but it doesn't offer an awful lot. Cusco is a nice place.

 

[opusman]

Cusco is a nice place.

I found Cusco incredibly touristy and apart from a couple of museums, rather boring, whereas I really liked Santiago and wished we had more time there. So YMMV

 

[kpc]

I would spend the extra day in Santiago.

 

[RooFlyer]

If it were me, I'd plump for Santiago. Whilst not the most thrilling of cities, there are a few interesting sights and I'd welcome the extra day to 'pad' for any delays and just to get into the time zone before having to focus on the arduous experiences ahead

 

[JohnM]

If you opt for Santiago, an option would be to take a day trip to Valparaiso as something quite interesting.

 

[opusman]

Or lunch at a winery in one of the nearby wine regions (e.g. Casablanca).

 

[amaroo]

Does anyone have a view on the best time to book Huayna Picchu ... 7am or 10am?

Both are wide open for the day we want to do it.

 

[RooFlyer]

I didn't climb it (as JohnM will tell you ) but I would suggest 7am, as the weather (clouds) tends to be clearer in the morning (I was on the general site in the afternoon one day, and the morning the next day. I took every single photo of the afternoon visit, again in the morning, as the sun was out.) If you are staying at the Belmond on site, (I think you are?) also asking them would be my suggestion.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

My view on altitude sickness - and sea sickness - is to not take a prophylactic on first outing because you will never find out whether you need it or not. Of course, the downside is that if you turn out to be prone to suffering either badly, then starting the medication mid-stream is said to be ineffectual.

When I went to Antarctica, it seemed like most pax were using patches or taking tablets without really knowing whether they needed to. I didn't and handled a pretty rough outbound crossing just fine.

Similarly, with altitude sickness, in my view it is good to find your personal 'threshold' altitude at which you start feeling effects - and just what those effects are. I find a bit of light-headedness starts at about 3300 m (which just happens to be Cuzco's altitude). One then just learns to move slowly and not get up and down too quickly once above the 'threshold'. I've handled up to at least 5200 m with nothing more than a bit of dizziness. But in the Atacama last year I did see someone about half my age totally debilitated by altitude sickness - migraine-like headaches, unable to eat and needing oxygen.

It seems to be a condition that is very difficult to generalise about.

Yes you will see young, old, super-fit, unfit with AMS. from what I have seen though it is mainly those rushing who are not acclimatising properly who suffer.

Sea Sickness: If I am going yachting for say a fortnight I will often take a tablet on the first day while my body gets used to the motions of the water. Particularly if robust conditions are forecast and as I will normally be only on a 10-15 m yacht.

Altitude Sickness: From what I have seen and read AS is not that predictable. Fortunately I have never suffered more than strong headaches at that was when i was at 5700m, but I put a lot of that down to that I take acclimatisation very seriously and often go more cautiously that the recommended steps.

Many that I have seen rush things even when with guides. For example huge number of trekkers, incuding via supposedly reputable trekking and "household" known companies run treks to the various Everest destinations by flying in at Lukla. When I was there I oberved that only about one in three trekkers completed all aspects of their trek, whereas those that came in from Jiri all reached their goals.

My December trip to Annupurna Base Camp (4100m, but we went slightly higher) revealed that the vast majority of people doing this trek did not follow accepted acclimatisation rates. Not that I went out of my way looking for it, but trekkers with AMS were commonplace.

With a visit to MP/HP many people will simply choose to not devote sufficient time to acclimatise. Diomox can assist in this as it accelerates acclimatisation BUT it is no guarantee to prevent it. So the rushed trip that most will make still exposes them to risk. It does have side-effects, some minor and some potentially more serious to some. If you exhibit AMS symptons then descend, descend descend. Personally I prefer to devote adequate acclimatisation time and not take Diomox.

You and your partner should both read and understand the signs of AMS so that you can recognise in each other.


Training: A part of your pre-trip trainig make sure to include some stairs and/or steep trails where you have to lift your knee. Training on the flat can be good for aerobic fitness, but you muscles will cry out bigtime if you do not condition them with some "stepping".

 

[kpc]

Does anyone have a view on the best time to book Huayna Picchu ... 7am or 10am?

Both are wide open for the day we want to do it.

7am...it can get quite hot by mid am...if it has been raining a lot, consider abandoning the climb as it can get quite slippery in parts. ..I reckon if HP was in Oz, climbing it will be banned for OHS reasons. ..because of the altitude, I found it a very difficult challenge and took 1.5 hours to get to the top! Coming down was a lot harder for different reasons ...you will have sore ankles and knees after a couple of days at MP!

 

[juddles]

....I reckon if HP was in Oz, climbing it will be banned for OHS reasons. .....

I agree one hundred percent.

 

[amaroo]

Belmond is in total agreement with Rooflyer and kpc - 7am is booked.

BTW, we've finally decided on the itinerary, thanks QF for the extra day..

Arrive SCL > stay overnight Lima

Fly Cusco > transfer to Sacred Valley, stay 3 nights

Hiram Bingham train

MP 2 nights

Hiram Bingham train

Cusco 2 nights

Andean Explorer

Lake Titilaka 3 nights

Fly SCL > overnight, depart SYD

Should be good!

 

[opusman]

Sounds like a great trip!

Btw, the lake is called Titicaca. Titilaka seems to be the name of a hotel.

 

[amaroo]

Sounds like a great trip!

Btw, the lake is called Titicaca. Titilaka seems to be the name of a hotel.

Lol, I got my Titi.... mixed up Going there, and staying there.

Thanks AFF'ers - your advice has created the itinerary.

 

[amaroo]

Need to ask some lame questions

I'm about to book SCL-LIM ... LIM-CUZ ... JUL-SCL

The MCT at SCL I>I is 1 hour. We want to connect from QF27 (12:10) and fly to Lima on LA642 (15:05) giving us 2h 55m buffer. The LA flights will be on a separate booking.

Questions;

1. Given it's an international connection - will QF check our luggage from BNE all the way to Lima?
2. If we have to collect our bags in SCL and checkin for LIM - do we need to pay the reciprocity fee in SCL?
3. The JUL-SCL has a stop in Lima and the first sector is Y only ... how do you book a mix class on the same booking?

FWIW LA wants A$2,620 for PE SCL-LIM-SCL :shock:

 

[JohnM]

Need to ask some lame questions

I'm about to book SCL-LIM ... LIM-CUZ ... JUL-SCL

The MCT at SCL I>I is 1 hour. We want to connect from QF27 (12:10) and fly to Lima on LA642 (15:05) giving us 2h 55m buffer. The LA flights will be on a separate booking.

Questions;

1. Given it's an international connection - will QF check our luggage from BNE all the way to Lima?
2. If we have to collect our bags in SCL and checkin for LIM - do we need to pay the reciprocity fee in SCL?
3. The JUL-SCL has a stop in Lima and the first sector is Y only ... how do you book a mix class on the same booking?

FWIW LA wants A$2,620 for PE SCL-LIM-SCL :shock:

I'm almost certain your bags will go through to LIM and you won't need to pay the fee but someone else may be able to confirm that.

 

[amaroo]

Any recommendations for Sacred Valley private tours / guide ... staying three nights in Urubamba ... plenty of time to see the sights.