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Why you can’t drive a rental car to Machu Picchu

Mar 6th 2013

By: Jacquie

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Every year someone asks me about renting a car during their trip to Machu Picchu in Peru. Americans are hopeless addicts to self-driven, gasoline-powered vehicles. We think it will give us freedom, flexibility & independence on our trips. Like it does at home.

Boarding Shuttle Bus to Machu Picchu

Although I’m an avid proponent of independent travel, there are places where you should hang up the keys. Peru is be one of them. Here’s why:
- traffic – unimaginably snarled & complicated
- city parking – good luck with that
- roads not clearly marked and road conditions are state secrets (bridge? what bridge?) GPS? I wouldn’t count on it.
- gas stations may few & far between & located in someone’s front yard marked by a piece of fabric dangling from a stick
- driving customs – vehicles drive as close to each other on the roads as the hand chiseled stones are placed to each other in the ancient ruins
- Car maintenance – different rules apply
- Roadside assistance – you have to be prepared to be your own mechanic & solve our own roadside problems
- vandalism – renting a car may increase your chances of becoming a target
- you can’t drive to Machu Picchu – no one can. You can hike on the Inca Trail or take the train to Aguas Calientes
So why don’t you adapt to local standards? Even locals who don’t own vehicles may rely on taxis and other resources from time to time. It doesn’t mean you can’t travel on your own. By shifting your mindset to think like a local, you can still explore all the nooks and crannies you desire without the added expense & responsibility of managing a vehicle in a foreign land.

What can you do to think & act more like a local ?
- walk & be prepared for local weather with appropriate outerwear & footwear
- book your accommodations within walking distance to activities
- if you need vehicular transportation, research more than one option. Taxis may be easy, but there might be shared mini-vans for a fraction of the cost. Ask at the hotel reception or concierge.
- arrange multiple activities in the same geographical location to coordinate with the transportation options
- reach out to travelers in your hotel to share expenses for transportation to popular activities
Challenging our view of the world we know is one of the reasons we travel. Learning to travel without a car is a good lesson for all.
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Cusco hotels & toilets: what to expect when traveling in Peru

Oct 21st 2012

By: Jacquie

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This post will focus on the common characteristics of 3 star hotels in Cuzco and what to expect. There’s nothing wrong with most of the hotels in Cusco. But judging by the negative comments written by travelers on Trip Advisor, most of the issues are due to traveler expectations. There are a few things that, if prepared for in advance, will make your stay in 3 star Cusco hotels more comfortable:

Vehicle in Cusco
- Getting to a Cusco hotel:
  Streets in Cusco may be cobbled, steep and even too narrow for some vehicles to fit. Mini-vans may not be able to arrive at the entry of the hotel. Even micro-taxis may have to squeeze to get through. Ask the hotel to provide your transfer to/from the airport. It shouldn’t cost any more than you waving a taxi at the airport. The hotel will send the appropriate size vehicle. If you are in a group, don’t be surprised if the vehicle let’s you off at a nearby intersection so that you can walk the final block. Adios Adventure Travel knows how to get to the different hotels, so our travelers don’t have to worry. We send the correct size vehicle. But we might expect you to walk a block or so. We arrange for assistance with the luggage.
- Cusco hotels and street noise: hotels located near the central plaza and on streets wide enough to accommodate vehicles with horns are likely to have street noise invade your room. Even hotels not on big, busy streets will be subject to urban noises including barking dogs and crowing roosters. When checking in, forgo the picturesque balcony perched over the cobbled streets and ask for a quiet room. Whip out ear plugs & dark eye mask & keep them on your bedside table in case you are awakened by braying animals or nearby revelry in the neighborhood.
- Cuzco hotels are not centrally heated: but then, neither are homes. Even the 4 star and 5 star hotels may not have central heat. But most have space heaters available on request. Peruvians know how to layer bedding and you should be plenty warm and comfortable once you are inside your woolen cocoon.
- Cusco hotels are dimly lit: Peruvians are practical when it comes lighting. You’ll find switches on the wall, overhead fixtures and even bedside lamps and many times individual reading lights over each bed. But you will not find an abundance of light flooding every corner of the room. Digging through a black-lined suitcase in the semi-darkness is the last thing you want to do after a busy day of sightseeing. The best solution is to bring a headlamp which gives you the freedom to use both hands and can also be used as a book light if you happen to have insomnia from the altitude and want to do something while you lie awake!
- Limited outlets in Cuzco hotel rooms: So you have cameras, ipods, ipads & laptops. All of which need charging. And your hotel room might have 1 or 2 outlets in the room. And it’s possible the only light fixture in the room is plugged in to valuable real estate. Here’s a link to a travel size power strip & surge protector It can accommodate 3 plug-in devices and has 2 USB ports. IMPORTANT NOTE: the power strip is 3-prong and you will need to carry a 2-prong adaptor. (maybe Belkin product developers will read this post & come up with a device that adapts to 3-prong or 2-prong outlets)
- One mirror in Cuzco hotel rooms: double, single, triple rooms will likely have only 1 mirror. And it will be located in the bathroom. Remember that headlamp you brought earlier? Couple that with your compact mirror and you have a mini setup for doing those things that require you to look closely at your face.
- Clocks, hair-dryers, oxygen tanks & land-line phones in Cusco hotel rooms: I don’t think I’ve ever seen a clock in a Cusco hotel room. Hair-dryers may be available. You may have to ask at the desk. Most hotels are family run and when things go “missing” or get broken, the replacement comes right out of the family grocery money! If you MUST have a hair-dryer, bring your own. Unless you’re staying in a remote jungle lodge, you can expect a land-line phone in your room. Most hotels have an oxygen tank tucked away in a corner or under the desk for those moments when the altitude is getting to you. If you do not notice improvement within 5 minutes of using the tank, just turn it off. You might be one of those people whose symptoms are not affected by ingesting additional oxygen.
- Concierge services in Cuzco hotels: family-run hotels want your stay to be comfortable and enjoyable. You can ask for anything and if it’s possible, they will earnestly try to help you out. They can make local calls for you, direct you to local tours, arrange airport transfers, directions to hotels, pharmacies or landmarks. They may not be able to confirm your flights or print boarding passes.
- Computers & Internet in every Cusco hotel: most hotels have a dedicated computer in the lobby for guests who want to quickly check email or get local info. However, it’s rude to think that the computer is there for your entertainment. Surfing the web or watching Youtube videos is a bit much.
- Toilet seats in every Cuzco hotel: we take our toilet seats for granted elsewhere, but not in Peru. Every hotel will have toilet seats and fully plumbed facilities. However, once you leave the comfort of your hotel, you should be prepared to use toilets without seats. Seats break and become a maintenance issue and the solution of the practical-minded Peruvians is to eliminate them. Public toilets, restaurants and museums may not have seats on their toilets. For men, this is not so bad most of the time, unless you absolutely have to sit down. Sitting on cold, pee-splattered porcelain (or worse) means that women have to either clean the toilet in order to sit or they have to learn to “dangle” above the hole. Here’s a couple of techniques for using toilets without seats. Place both hands on the wall behind you to support your body weight as you lean back. Have your toilet paper ready to use. Or do lots of lunges to build your quadricep muscles before you travel to make it easier to squat without using your arms. I think it’s easier to squat in the bushes than to use some of the seat-less toilets in public banos. But this is frowned upon in public places, (unless you’re a man!) Toilet seat covers sound like a good idea but are not a practical solution in this case because they are not sturdy enough for this application. You need a solid barrier. So we found a folding, travel toilet seat that weighs less than 1 pound. We realize it’s designed for diminutive derrieres, but so far, no one has designed a folding, travel toilet seat for adults! You can find different styles including those decorated with Disney cars or Sesame street characters. It’s your choice.
We’ve covered all the basics for hotels and here’s one final travel tip. There is only one restroom at Machu Picchu. It’s located at the main entry to the ruins. They charge 1 sol to enter and we’re happy to report there is plenty of paper and every toilet has a seat!
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Virginia Beach Travel Company has Best Tours to Machu Picchu

Sep 2nd 2012

By: Jacquie

1 comment
It helps that Adios Adventure Travel has an office in Virginia, US. In Virginia Beach, the office is organized and run by Jacquie Whitt. It also helps that Adios has an office in Cuzco, Peru, run by Adios Adventure Travel co-founder, Vidal Jaquehua.
Together, the team has organized and guided over 5000 people on many trips to Machu Picchu. Jacquie and Vidal have a pool of local resources that include Cuzco hotels, some of the best licensed Peruvian guides you will have the fortune to meet, licensed drivers, and Inca Trail porters, who are treated with respect and dignity, and consequently love to work for Adios Adventure Travel.

The bottom line is that all these resources add up to the best Machu Picchu tours you can get. Are you planning to travel to Machu Picchu? All our tours are private. And you’ll be surprised to find out just how affordable private tours to Machu Picchu can be.

If you live in the Hampton Roads area, give Jacquie a call and she will be happy to arrange a face to face meeting to discuss your travel needs. If you live out of the area, Jacquie offers Machu Picchu travel advice over the phone or on skype. In addition to the US, Adios Adventure Travel has organized tours to Machu Picchu for travelers from Australia, Canada, Europe & Asia. We make it easy to communicate with us and can accept payments in almost any currency.

Jacquie has personally escorted many groups to all areas of Peru including the Inca Trail, Machu Picchu, hike & bike and Lake Titicaca. Jacquie and Vidal are Machu Picchu experts and have arranged tours that include everything from hiking to Machu Picchu to 5* tours for luxury travelers who want to stay in the Sanctuary Hotel or Monastery Hotel. Jacquie & Vidal collaborate closely to ensure that every detail of your trip is handled with the precision of a military marching band! Even our packaged tours to Machu Picchu are unique & affordable. You will not but hustled from site to site in large groups. Every single tour to Machu Picchu is as special to us as it is to you!

Adios Adventure Travel also organizes custom tours and activities for independent travelers or travelers visiting more than one destination on their trip to South America, including Amazon jungle tours, trips to Uyuni Salt Flats & Galapagos Islands. We arrange everything ourselves. Our affiliates and partners in Bolivia & Ecuador share our high standards for travel & tours to South America.
Read reviews about our company on Trip Advisor, Fodor’s or Lonely Planet.

Then give us a call at 757-714-6649, on skype: jacquie.whitt or send an email to: info@adiosadventuretravel.com
Adios Adventure Travel website

We want to hear your questions about how you can travel to Machu Picchu.
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Packing for the Amazon Jungle

Jun 17th 2012

By: Jacquie

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First Aid Kit & Wine are packed
Ten months of travel preparations and today we are poised on the eve of departure for the Amazon Jungle in Peru. We’ve had to overcome a few glitches during that time. We’ve had our flights changed once, our lodges cancelled once and within 2 weeks of departure, two of the trip participants informed us that their departure dates were 1 day earlier than we had in our schedule. That meant we had to change their domestic flights. Vidal called in a favor with a friend at the airline and another crisis was averted.

What do you pack for an environment that has no electricity, limited plumbing and world-renowned bugs! We’re packing a full selection of bug repelling options; from the totally natural organic varieties to the full-strength DEET-based chemical kind. But just as a back-up in case the vitamin B-1 supplements we’ve been taking don’t work as we’ve been told. We’ve sprayed bug repellent on our clothing hoping that bugs will be repelled by the scent and go off in to the jungle to annoy the wildlife and leave us to our cold showers.

Our equipment is limited to less than 30 lbs or so because we are traveling in motored canoes and small vehicles. Having big suitcases with wheels is not useful in a place without pavement on which to roll them.

The most important item? Our first-aid kit, which includes anti-itch and antibacterial treatments as well as temporary tooth filling! Think about it! What would you do if you lost a filling out there? We threw in a few survival tools including water purification tablets, a compass about the size of your thumb nail, and a signal mirror (if you can find a clearing with sunlight)

There’s one more important thing. Our wine. We are each packing a bottle of wine to share. There are no stores in the jungle, except for a rustic counter propped up in the corner of the lodge where you can buy a few snacks or pricey beverages and treats shipped in for the tourists.

I’m packing my bottle of wine inside a dry bag. Assuming the wine makes it in tact, I’ll use the bag to store cameras and passports when we’re doing activities around water.

My camera, ipod, videocam, netbook, including cables & cases, are labeled and organized. I’m taking a HD video camera that you wear on your head or attach to your vehicle while doing activities. We’re guaranteed to capture the action on this trip! And the lodge has a generator for recharging batteries. Tech equipment is all set to go.

There’s nothing left to do now but cram all the piles in to one suitcase and one carryon and get to the airport on time.
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How to travel to Machu Picchu before your cruise around South America

May 13th 2012

By: Jacquie

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Can you do a 3-day quickie shore excursion to Machu Picchu from your cruise ship? It’s very tricky because you fly from
Visit Machu Picchu before your cruise
sea level in Lima to 11,000 ft elevation in Cusco on Day 1. The next day you visit the Machu Picchu ruins, which are a little lower at 8000 ft. But it takes many people at least 24, even 48 hours to get adjusted to the altitude. On Day 3, you return by air to Lima to board your cruise ship in Callao; or fly to Guayaquil, Ecuador to board your cruise ship in Manta; or fly to Santiago, Chile, to board the ship in Valparaiso.

There are no direct flights to/from Cusco to Argentina, Chile or Ecuador. All flights go through Lima, Peru.

Here’s an overview of the logistics to get from Lima to Machu Picchu:

* from Lima, flights to Cusco are 1 hour. Elevation is 11,000 ft/3040 m
* from Cusco, private vehicles 1 – 1.5 hours through the Sacred Valley to the train station in Ollantaytambo.
Elevation 9000 ft/2740 m
* from Ollantaytambo, 1.5 – 2 hours by train to Aguas Calientes (where everyone walks)
* from Aguas Calientes, 30 min shuttle bus to the main entry of Machu Picchu National Park
(steep climb to get to the ruins)

It is possible to do this tour in 3 days. But it does not take in to consideration how the high altitude affects people and their ability to get around. There is quite a bit of walking in Aguas Calientes and the ruins because other than shuttle buses, vehicles are not allowed. If you are not feeling well because of the altitude, imagine trying to do this?

An alternative to the 3-day Machu Picchu express tour is to fly to Lima 6 days before the start of the cruise. If your flight arrives late evening, it will be necessary to spend the night at a hotel near the Lima airport. On Day 2, you will fly from Lima to Cusco, where you will start your tour to Machu Picchu. You will have time to see a little bit of Cusco, some of the Sacred Valley and spend most of 1 day at the Machu Picchu ruins. On day 5, you can fly from Cusco – Lima – Buenas Aires in Argentina or Cusco – Lima – Santiago in Chile. By organizing a pre-cruise tour to Machu Picchu, you’ll still be able to arrive in EZE for the pre-cruise tour of Iguazu Falls.

It is much more affordable to book your pre-cruise tour to Machu Picchu with Adios Adventure Travel than it is to go with Princess cruises. We’ll help you find the right flights and arrange for our licensed guide to meet you at the Cusco airport when you arrive. The guide will be with you until you depart from Cusco on the last day.

The cost of a 5-day tour of Machu Picchu is $895 pp USD and includes everything but lunches/dinners/bottled water, tips and insurance.
Contact: info@adiosadventuretravel.com
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Traveling to Machu Picchu with Mom

May 7th 2012

By: Jacquie

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Mom at the Norfolk Botanical garden
She’s seventy-seven years old, lives alone and stays fit by keeping her condo in immaculate condition. Mom is active, engaged and busy. When she’s not cleaning, she’s rearranging the furniture, hosing down the patio or planting flowers in the big pots by her front door.
So when she said she wanted to go to Machu Picchu, I only hesitated for a couple minutes before I found myself saying, “sure Mom, you can join the group traveling in August”

You have to understand that Mom is English. Born, raised and permeated through and through with a bloodline that gives her an aversion to all things gritty and rustic. She went to the island of Malta in her younger years. And hated it. I wasn’t with her on that trip, but I heard the stories. Epic musings about holding handkerchiefs to one’s nose in the hope that the smell of dusty feces would go away. Or treading around poor beggars in the streets and doorways. I did travel with her to France, where the restaurant in which we dined had one restroom shared by both sexes. Mother walked into the room with private stalls, but when she saw a gentleman at the sink, she decided she could “hold it.” (those provocative French!)

Mom has historically not been attracted to “third-world” countries or the people who reside there. So taking her to Lima will be interesting. The airport is located in a dusty, industrial part of town where you don’t see a pretty skyline or white beaches or anything associated with being on vacation. To see Lima you have to drive 45 minutes away to Miraflores where the hotels and restaurants are. Then you take buses or taxis around the city to see the sites.

So we’re flying the “redeye” to Lima and arriving early in the morning. We’ll stay in the airport, then board our flight to Cusco in the mountains. Arriving to Lima in the dark, staying in the airport and leaving ASAP are part of my strategy to minimize Mom’s exposure to any potential “dust.”

Mom and I have discussed the cobbled streets of Cusco and the 500 years of ground-in animal feces and vegetable matter from all the living that has gone on there. She has assured me she is ready for this adventure and is prepared to enjoy this trip, in spite of the hardships.

I’ll be Mom’s personal porter. My friends in Cusco have been warned that Mother is coming, and Vidal has his team in place. These guys know how to take care of people. Wine will flow continuously and private transportation will be the standard. Unfortunately, he can’t flatten the mountains, but I will become a human walking stick for Mom and help her everywhere. We don’t want to fall.

And as for the Machu Picchu ruins? I’ve seen young people climb the steps in high heels and older people creep up with their canes. We’ll take it one step at a time. This will be Mom’s special trip.
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Need tickets to hike Huayna Picchu?

Apr 26th 2012

By: Jacquie

1 comment
If you’re having trouble navigating the Peru government website to get your train tickets to Machu Picchu, or entry tickets to the ruins, we can help.
This is one situation where travel arrangements needs to be certain. If you’re not sure how to confirm your reservations and make payments, you risk not being able to get to the ruins or get in. That’s where we come in. We have resources in Cusco to send someone to get tickets on your behalf.

For those who want to hike Huayna Picchu, you need confirmed reservations. The choice is 7 am or 10 am. Unless you’re on a tight schedule, it’s advisable to let us know if you can hike at either time. Huayna Picchu is the little mountain you see behind the ruins. The hike takes about 2-3 hours to go up and then back down. Because of it’s popularity, reservations are now required.

In order to make reservations for you, we’ll need dates, (let us know if you have 1st choice & 2nd choice), your full name and passport info, full payment (Paypal) and the name of your hotel in Cusco, if you want us to deliver your tickets. At the time you contact us, we’ll verify that there is space available before you send any money. If, after you have paid, we are unable to get the tickets for the dates you request, we will give you a full refund.

The cost per person for the entry to Machu Picchu including the Huayna Picchu hike is 195 Peruvian Soles.
This includes:
*Entry Tickets
*Delivery Service to your hotel (we cannot deliver tickets to Sacred Valley unless you pay for the Taxi)
*Money-back guarantee

Make reservations now or ask questions: Adios Adventure Travel website or call our US Office 757-714-6649
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Nostalgic for my first Osprey backpack: replaced for free

Apr 12th 2012

By: Jacquie

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Lifetime warranty. I didn’t really pay attention to that at the time we purchased our Osprey luggage. I
Jacquie Whitt on jeep expedition in Bolivia
did pay attention to the high quality wheels and the comfortable shoulder straps on the Sojourner bag. My 16 year old son bought the Osprey backpack without wheels. When you’re young, you can get away with that.

Mature folks need to have a backup plan. All the time. Having shoulder straps and wheels seemed like a good combination. I didn’t anticipate how many times I would need to use the new Sojourner, but it seemed perfect for our first trip to S. America in 2007. Then Adios Adventure Travel was born and the trips to South America continued. Trips to Ecuador and China showed up and the one destination that really put the Sojourner to the test? Bolivia. It’s like going to the outback, only without kangaroos. The whole country, including the cities, are gritty and rugged, like Dodge City. Even the children have a sense of resilience about them. It’s like they are adults, but just little. Children in South America have responsibilities that turn them in to creatures capable of running small businesses or negotiating selling transactions with foreigners. They can hold their ground!

I went on a jeep expedition into the high desert where my Sojourner bag was hoisted up and down off the roof rack at least once or twice a day. Then it was thrown into the baggage hold of buses on several occasions and even made it to Uyuni on my domestic flight, “where every seat was a window seat!”

On my last day in La Paz, while packing my stuff for the big flight home, I noticed the fabric on the backside of my Sojourner bag had worn through. Completely through. I grabbed my tiny roll of duct tape and slapped on a few pieces, then rearranged the contents so that my underwear was buried deep, “just in case.”

Now I’m a little nostalgic for the old bag. After all, it was the first bag I took on my first trip to Peru, which kind of changed my life. Seems like a pretty big deal. If I had known that I wouldn’t be seeing the bag again, I might have hugged it one more time before parting.
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Did you buy a Groupon for a Peruvian Resort, Hotel and Spa?

Apr 5th 2012

By: Jacquie

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If you have your hotel confirmed, you are halfway to organizing your trip of a lifetime. Adios Adventure Travel can arrange the other half of your trip, including airport transfers, sightseeing
Explore Machu Picchu
tours, guides and local transportation.
Once you arrive in Cusco, our guide will meet you at the airport and transfer to your hotel. If you want to set up day trips and tours to see the sights in the Sacred Valley of the Incas or in Cusco, we will craft an itinerary based on your needs and interests. We’ll organize all logistics for your trip to Machu Picchu.

Extend your tour to explore Lake Titicaca or Arequipa and Colca Canyon or combine your trip to Machu Picchu, Peru with a tour to see the Salt Flats of Bolivia or Galapagos Islands.
Contact our office in the US by phone at 757-714-6649 or by email info@adiosadventuretravel.com
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MSN: How they made us think about our model for a successful Travel Business

Feb 19th 2012

By: Jacquie

3 comments
It’s been an exciting week. Actually it’s been exciting since the start of the new year when Adios
Co-Founder of Adios Adventure Travel
Adventure Travel was featured in a couple travel blogs. Several people contacted us to ask about employment. As guides. And a few asked about setting up trips. Even better!

Co-Founder of Adios Adventure Travel
But that was nothing compared to what happened when money.msn.com mentioned Jacquie Whitt, one of the Adios co-founders, in a story featuring 10 new careers after age 50. (check out career #7!)

We didn’t know the story was going to be featured on MSN until you called, you texted, you liked us on FB, you sent emails about once every 20 seconds during the entire day. And you visited our website in unprecedented numbers. Can you say 3000% increase? We were stunned. In a good way! We know you’re out there and we know you’re paying attention. Thank you!

We tried to reply to every single inquiry. If we missed anyone, we’re very sorry. It was not intentional.
For all of you interested in a job as guide, unfortunately, we don’t “hire” guides. We would apply for those jobs too! But you inspired us to look at how we did organize our company. We looked back to see what steps we took to get where we are now. There are 3 very clear principles:

1) Finding the RIGHT business partner is more important than finding financial support. Our partnership is based on being honest, trustworthy & dependable. These core values could be the foundation for any business. We know that running this company would not be possible without each other & we both share the same customer service philosophy. Being in complete agreement on that principle, makes everything else work.
2) We each have another source of income. A paycheck that is dependable. The travel business fluctuates not only seasonally, but from year to year. It’s a good idea to hold on to your paycheck. If you have a paying job, keep it while you build your new business.
3) We have not accumulated any debt. If we can’t afford it, we don’t buy it. We make hard decisions about spending. Some years, we invested in travel trade shows, other years we invested in fees for membership organizations and others we have spent on advertising.

This is our simple formula for success. We hope you will follow your passion wherever it takes you and we hope you will continue to share your stories of success as you go.
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