Accommodation

Accommodation in Cusco varies depending on your needs!

Cusco:

Loki is a hostel chain where you can share your room with a group of people for as low a $8 US per bed. They also have private rooms from $27 US per room

Home Sweet Home This hostel is in both Cusco and Arequipa. The prices are quite cheap according to their website.

Casa Andina is the Hotel chain that Garden House recommended in Cusco

Arequipa:

La Posada de Cacique - a few reviews on Trip advisor for this one - looks quite nice.

How do I get to Peru?

To get to Peru you have to go through either Buenos Aires or Santiago to get to Lima (the capital) from Sydney. From Lima you will need to get a flight to Cusco. From the prices we have seen, it seems to work out cheaper if you buy the flight to Lima, rather than buying 2 seperate flights.

First areas to look into are:

STA - Pretty good quotes so far! We did business with a lovely guy by the name of Sean Morrison from Broadway Shoppingtown broadway@branch.sta.com.au or 02 9211 2563.

Flight Centre - A friend of ours is a travel agent (pretty handy huh?) Her name is Kylie Johnson and she is more than happy to help anyone out with flights for the trip. Also if there are a few of you she can organise a group discount, so if anyone is thinking of doing this, then feel free to let us know and we can put you in contact with any others who are thinking of doing the same thing! She is located in Mosman, but you can do everything by email so you don't actually have to go to the north shore at any stage if you don't want to. Her contact details are: kylie.johnson@flightcentre.com.au or 8968 8000

There are heaps of sites on the net which specialise in flights. Best Flights and travel.com.au are decent sites which we used as starting points with occasionally some good deals!

Hens and Bucks

Hola!

Case has been looking into ideas around our hens and bucks celebrations before the wedding for those who have the extra travel time!


Ideas include...

* Cusco
- This would be the easiest place to groove because everyone will be coming here anyway for the wedding.
- As it was once the heart of the Incan empire, Cusco offers plenty in the way of ruins and other sights.
- There is plenty of accomodation options.
- A lot of outdoor activites like; white water rafting, mountain biking, trekking, horse-riding, para-gliding,
- On the Monday before our wedding, Cusco has it's El Senor de los Temblores festival (The Lord of the Earthquakes).

* North Coast Peru - Mancora (Far north tip of Peru)
- A popular beach resort.
- Good surf year round
- Rent off road bikes, jet skies, surf lessons, windsurf, hot springs
- Good night life.
- The food here is mostly seafood, fresh, straight off the boat.
- Accomodation ranges from plush resorts to beachside bungalows & beachfront shacks.
- But before you get too excited, it takes something like 16 to 18 hours to get there by bus from Lima. If we take a plane and then bus or taxi it will take 4-5 hrs and cost anywhere from $100 to $400 to get there.

* Lima
- Most peeps will be heading through here to get to Cusco so it won't be out of the way.
- Being Peru's capital and biggest city, there are plenty of good restaurants, accomodation and bars.
- Lima is set on the beach, and is supposed to have good surf, although i think the water is cold. Nearby surfing hot spots have hostels near the beach.
- It is the best place for Peruvian cuisine, and also has fresh, cheap seafood.
- Para gliding, cycling, horse-riding, bull fighting, soccer.

* Huaraz & Cordilleras - Adventure capital
- Huaraz is the Andean adventure capital.
- Trekking, mountaineering, mountain biking
- Lots of bars, accommodation, good restaurants.
- Bus from Lima - 7 - 8 hours

* Arequipa - South PERU
- Flights from Lima & Cusco
- 6 hour bus to Puno / Lake Titicaca
- Peru's most stylish city; good nightlife
- Surrounded by active volcanoes, thermal springs, high altitude deserts and worlds deepest canyons
- Horse riding, climbing, mountain biking, trekking, rafting
- Return from Cusco to Arequipa $240 (LAN)


We'd appreciate any ideas to flow through here. If you're planning to come this if for you as well so let's make it FUN!

Hello and welcome to our blog!

We're hoping you use it for any questions you may have around our wedding and trip.

Any questions or ideas, please POST AWAY!

invitation

Machu Picchu - Initial information

In the days following the wedding we will be walking the Machu Picchu trail would love to do this with our wedding party. This is a 4-day hike but for those looking for a more relaxing adventure, it is also possible to catch a train there on a 1 or 2 day trip.

Option one - the trek:

The current prices for the Inca trail - 4 days, 3 nights in groups of maximum 8 people return in a back-packer train is $US509; OR return in Vistadome $US528.

At the moment the program is a s follows:

DAY 1 Cusco / Km 82 / Koriwuarachina

At proper time, depart by bus to the km 82 since here we will start the Inka Trail. In the afternoon visit the ruins of Llaqtapata, the Wayllabamba and Llulluchayoc. Camping – Altitude approx (3,200 meters) Lunch and dinner

DAY 2 Llulluchayoc / Warmiwañuska / Runkurakay

A couple of hours take us to Warmiwañuska pass (4,200) first the trail descends to the Pacaymayo River and then climbs slowly past Runkurakay. Camping – Altitude approx (3,700 meters) Breakfast, lunch and dinner

DAY 3 Runkurakay / Sayacmarka / Wiñay Wayna

Beginning the hike at Runkurakay and over to Sayacmarca ruins. After continuing along the buttress and passing Puyupatamarca. Continue the hike to Wiñay Wayna. Camping – Altitude approx (2,700 meters) Breakfast, lunch and dinner

DAY 4 Wiñay Wayna / Inti Punku / Machu Picchu

Early in the morning beginning of the hike and continue to Inti Punku the way of the Incas used to come, watching the magnificent citadel of Machu Picchu. A fascinating tour of temples, houses, terraces for growing crops and even gardens. Return to Cusco by train (backpacker or Vistadome coach).

THE PROGRAM INCLUDES:

- A guide expert of the road and of the customs that he/she will be able to him in contact with the environment.
- Eat hot during the tours
- Carps bipersonals, besides carp bathroom and carp cooks
- Tables
- Chairs
- Personal of kitchen
- Personal of support (carriers)
- Entrance fees Inca Trail & Machupicchu
- Transfer Station Peru rail / hotel the day of their return (it transports tourist)
- Transfer person that will be in charge of the passengers
- First-aid kit of first aids
- Oxygen
- Daffor
- Matra
- Train Machu Picchu / Cusco (backpacker o Vistadome coach)

WE RECOMMEND TO CARRY:

- Sleeping bag - Rain poncho
- Sunglasses
- Light hat or visor
- Sun blocking lotion
- Light hiking shoes or sneakers
- Cotton long sleeved shirts and t-shirts
- Wool socks
- Water bottles or canteens
- Flashlight with spare batteries
- Photographic camera
- Personal medication

THE OTHER ALTERNATIVES:

Option 2:

2 days 1 night return in Backpacker train is US $349.00 and in Vistadome is US $368.00 they all include: English speaking guide, porters, lunch the first day, entrance to the citadel, bus and train tickets it doesn’t include Hotel but you have to spend the night in Aguas Calientes to visit the citadel the next morning.

Option 3:

The day trip to Machu Picchu is US$269.00 and includes Guide, return tickets on Vistadome train, entrance to the citadel and return bus to Aguas Calientes.

These prices will probably increase if Peru Rail or the INC changes their rates, but that we can’t know till early 2010.

(as written by Ceci)

Family "Preception" Picnic

A "Preception"? What IS a preception? As we are to be wed in Peru we've kept a date for a reception to be enjoyed with family prior to our wedding - hence the Preception!

Please save Saturday the 12th December 2010 for a pre-christmas Hilton-Rudd-Johnson-Dingle-Abrahams-Demagante rendezvous shananigan on the Central Coast!!

It will be held at Bush St Reserve at Norah Head from 12 pm onwards.

It is easiest to take the Budgewoi exit and head South from Budgewoi along the Central Coast Highway. OR if you're coming from Mum and Dad Rudd's at Wamberal, head North on the Central Coast highway. Google Map This is a very casual event so bring your swimmers for the rock pool and some drinks for the party!

All food will be provided by Lynn & Paul, Peter & Emily and Casey & I