Ross Wehner: Do the Inka trail when it's not crowded outside of June-August! Or check out the alternative Inca Trail that goes past the sacred mountain of Salcantay and hooks onto the end of the Inca Trail. There was a good review of alternative Inca Trails in the NY Times. Or do a totally wild and off-the-beaten path trek with one of the operators I recommend in Moon Peru.

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Merced, Calif. If you wanted to do a 2 day hike to Machu Picchu, visit Lake Titicaca, visit pisac—would you arrange a package deal or individually book each trip?

Ross Wehner: This all depends on what kind of traveler you are. What I can tell you is that Peru is safe as long as you take basic precautions (see "Health and Safety section of Moon Peru and also the section on taxis, page 566). I can also tell you that with a basic modicum of Spanish you can do almost anything you want in Peru and generally have a great sense of accomplishment and adventure while doing it. It might take a bit more time though!
You can certainly visit Pisac and Lake Titicaca on your own and, in fact, I would say do not take a tour unless you are very nervous about traveling on your own in Peru. For the 2-day, 1-night Machu Picchu hike you have no choice but to go with an operator. I recommend this company and there are other recommendations in Moon Peru as well.

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Neenah, Wis.: I am actually in Peru right now and was wondering whether the Nazca lines are really worth it? I have been asking a few travelers who have come from that direction but have received mixed reviews. I am traveling with a friend and she has already told me that she doesn?t want to do it due to cost. $40 seems a little pricey (for Peru) for something you might not enjoy. I just want to know a more professional opinion so that I can determine whether to make that pitstop or not. Thank you.

Ross Wehner: I understand your point of view.

The Nasca Lines are very impressive to me but people, depending on their perspective, tend to be either under- or overwhelmed by them.

I would say if you have a spiritual fascination with the Nasca Lines, they are worth making a special trip for. If not, then it's something to do only if you are traveling down the coast.

You can see them from observation towers fairly well but the best way to see them of course if by plane, which usually costs at least $100. There are also companies that can fly you from Lima and back for around the same price, which saves you a day or travel at least.

Good luck!

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Haverford, Pa.: I was thinking of going to Peru the second week of March. I have heard that this is still the rainy season. Are there places like Machu Picchu which it would be significantly better to visit later in the year?

Ross Wehner: March is a wonderful time! Do it! No crowds, green landscape! Most rains come in the afternoon and I find them beautiful over Peru's landscape. Bring an umbrella and a rain jacket. When I was a wilderness educator and we would get stuck in multi-day storm on a backpacking trip, we would tell students: "There are those who know what it means to walk in the rain, others just get wet." Having said that as you get towards the dry season of June-August the weather gets progressively drier. The peak months of rain are December - February.

Remember these are the rainfall patterns for the mountains and jungles of Peru. The coast is completely different and opposite to the winters and summers in the U.S.

On the coast, Dec - February is the sunny warm months and other parts of the year tend to be more foggy. The farther north you go in Peru, adn the closer to the equator, the warmer and sunnier it gets outside of that Dec-Feb timeframe.

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The Villages, Fla.: What is the best way to see the Sacred Valley on our own for two (2)days if we want to leave from Cusco tour the area and stay in Ollantaytambo each night? Also what is the best source to buy the train tickets from Ollantaytambo, returning to Cucso?