101 Peru and Machu Picchu

We both have Peru on our bucket lists so this week we are chatting with Carrick Buss from Along for the Trip about his recent family trip to Machu Picchu and the Sacred Valley. ON THE PODCAST 00:30 - Talking with Kim about her recent cruise 04:20 - Tamara’s trip to Kansas 12:19 - Talking with Carrick Buss 16:14 - Getting to Peru 17:19 - Booking on your own vs. through a tour operator 20:16 - Tips for planning your trip 24:29 - Planning your itinerary 25:18 - One week sample itinerary 29:11 - Machu Picchu 30:12 - Getting around in Peru 34:31 - Machu Picchu day trip 37:00 - Favorite hotels/companies 41:22 - Budget for visiting Peru 43:36 - Packing tips 45:15 - Things to know before you go 46:26 - Best place to take a family photo 48:04 - Favorite travel gear 50:06 - Kim and Tamara’s upcoming travels ABOUT CARRICK BUSS Carrick along with his wife Carrie and 2 children write for the family travel blog Along for the Trip. They seek out awesome, kid-friendly destinations close to home and around the globe, and prove that even with full time careers, there is always a way to travel with kids and see the world. Follow Carrick on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. TIPS FOR VISITING MACHU PICCHU WITH KIDS The seasons in Peru are opposite of what you would have in the United States since it is in the Southern hemisphere. If you plan on visiting Machu Picchu, keep in mind that the Ministry of culture limits the amount of visitors everyday. Make sure to purchase your tickets ahead of time if this is a must do for you. But unfortunately they do not sell student of kid tickets online, only adult tickets. You can buy tickets at the Ministry Website, as well as check how many tickets have already been sold. As of July 2017, they have split the visiting times for Machu Picchu into two 5 hour blocks. You can either buy tickets for 6:00am - 12:00pm or 12:00pm - 5:30pm. Because of this you need to plan your day to visit so that you do not miss out on time to visit this historic place. Be sure to buy trip insurance before heading out! The airport is at a very high elevation, so be prepared for that if you are traveling with kids or even if you are sensitive to elevation changes. BEST PLACE TO TAKE FAMILY PHOTO In Peru there a lot of different places that you can get a great family photo. In Cusco you can get a few photos with the women that walk around with baby animals. And of course if you are going to visit Machu Picchu, the ruins in the background is a wonderful, iconic family shot! FAVORITE TRAVEL GEAR Carrick loves to wear his Merrell trail running shoesinstead of bulky hiking boots for hiking. For flights he and his family like to wear comfy sport clothes from Old Navy. MENTIONED ON THE PODCAST Machu Picchu with kids 50 Best Things to do in Cusco Sacred Valley Peru Week Itinerary to Cusco Sacred Valley Machu Picchu with kids FOLLOW US AND SPREAD THE WORD! If you liked this show, please be sure to subscribe on iTunes, Stitcher, orGoogle Playand leave us a review! Have a question or comment? Send us an email or leave us a voicemail at +1.641.715.3900, ext. 926035# You can also follow our travels on Stuffed Suitcaseand We3Travel, or follow the Vacation Mavens on Instagram, Facebookor Twitter. Thanks for listening!