Avoid These Mistakes While Planning Your Trip to Peru

Some travelers throw themselves into pre-trip research and planning with gusto, while others like to let themselves be surprised on the road. We think a middle road is wise- don’t overplan, but do keep a few things in mind when making the basic arrangements. Here are our top three rookie mistakes and why you should avoid them…

 

Inflexible Itineraries: Planning too Much

Make sure to allow time to rest in between tours and activities. When traveling to high-altitude cities like Cusco, Peru or La Paz, Bolivia, you’ll want to allow for acclimatization, and after treks like the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu, you’ll want to account for some rest and recuperation for your sore muscles.

Part of enjoying a new destination is taking the time to stroll around and explore independently, something that you won’t be able to do if you’re feeling rushed, stressed, or ill. Don’t try to cover too much ground at the expense of enjoying the destinations you visit.

If you’re planning a longer trip, make sure not to book all of your excursions too far in advance- too many backpackers end up losing out because unforeseen illnesses get in the way of planned treks or other adventures, causing them to lose a large percentage of their deposit payments due to last-minute cancellations. You’ll want to schedule some things in advance, but don’t lock yourself into a schedule for the full 4 months of a long trip, for example.

Not Packing Smart

Don’t bring more than you can lug around and keep an eye on, remembering to leave space for things to take back with you. Yes, in cities like Lima you can send packages from the airport, but in many cities in Bolivia and Peru, you’ll find mailing packages internationally to be prohibitively expensive, so leave yourself some options. Most people bring much more clothing options than they need, and still manage to lack warm layers. Even along the arid desert coast of Peru, the nights can be very cold, and much more so when you reach the Andes! Just take the pages of guidebooks which interest you, or copy the info which will be pertinent.

Not Having a Money Plan, or Not Sticking to It

Don’t let outdated info cause you to underbudget- try to overestimate costs to give yourself some budget flexibility, and always have a certain amount of emergency cash that you can afford to lose should medical or legal problems arise. And, even when trying to stick to a tight budget, think about getting some backpacker’s insurance.

You can save money by occasionally working in hostels in exchange for room and board, or couchsurfing. Think about eating on the cheap, but budgeting for one fancy meal in each city to make sure you get to experience everything. The biggest money killer is alcohol, so try to limit partying nights and make sure you avoid situations that could lead to theft or other dangers. (Some hostels, such as Pirwa Colonial Hostel in Cusco and Pirwa La Paz, have their own bars, making it easy for you to get back to bed without risk.)

Plan Ahead for These Most Frequent Problems

• Let your bank know that you will be traveling, or they will cut off your ATM funds mid-trip to force you to contact them and confirm that it is indeed you withdrawing money in different countries.
• It’s a good idea to know where you’re staying on the first night in a new city, and how much cash-on-hand you need to get there. Many taxi drivers will not be capable of making change, meaning you could pay several times the fare in desperation. Even if you’re arriving in the early hours of the morning and prefer to hang out in the airport until the sun comes up, have a plan ready.
• Excursions with pass limits and high demand like the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu during the May through August months should be planned in advance or you risk losing out.
• Know the Visa requirements for your destination countries- do you need to obtain a Visa ahead of time, in your country of residence, or will you get one in the airport or border? Is there an entry fee? Remember that this can change on a country-by-country basis, you might not be able to enter as easily as other backpackers, or might have to pay a different entry fee.
• Aim for layovers of at least an hour and a half. It may be boring to spend the extra time in the airport, but that’s better than hours or even days of frustration trying to hold an airline responsible for their delayed flights causing you to miss a connection.