Ross Wehner: Great question. Ollantaytambo is one of my favorite places in all of Peru. It's really the best example of a living Inca village anywhere in the country, with people living in stone homes with trapezoidal doorways and street canals -- everything built 500 years ago by the Incas. There are incredible hikes to remote ruins and communities all around Ollanta. The sun temple at Ollanta I find to be the most spiritual and moving example of Inca stonework, along with Machu Picchu. The best place to stay in Ollanta is El Albergue (www.elalbergue.com) or El Tambo, the latter being more rustic. The properties are run by Joaquin Randall, his poartner Maita, and Joaquin's mother Wendy Weeks. This American-Peruvian family has lived in Ollanta since the 1960s and I have known them for a long time. They are thoroughly involved in service projects and other efforts to immprove the lives of Peruvians in Ollanta and other communities. I should mentions that Joaquin and I are involved in an effort to help U.S. schools organize volunteer and leadership experiences in Ollantaytambo through an organization I founded called World Leadership School.

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Dallas, Tex.: Hi Ross, I'm interested in going to Machu Picchu in August. I'm only going for a week, and I might be going alone. What tour would you recommend? I'd like to go with a group and have things planned out, but not every minute. Also, what other sites would you suggest that are a must see in Peru for the time that I have?

Ross Wehner: A week is pretty short—can you spare 10 days? All the bust agencies I can recommend are in the book and I have also come across a new one, perusurnativa.com. These trekking agencies will often offer a 2-night Inca Trail Machu Picchu experience that I recommend, 2 days in the Sacred Valley and then maybe 2 days in Cusco. I encourage you to plan at least one crazy, off-the-beaten track experience to get a taste of Peru. Take a bus from Peru to some crazy community in the middle of nowhere...you can talk to the agency you work with and they will have suggestions. Have a great time!

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Tulsa, Okla.: Who are the top two or three bicycle outfitters that operate in Peru?

Ross Wehner: you know there is a guy in Huaraz name Julio Olaza, mentioned in Moon Peru, who does a great job and could probably organize a trip for you anywhere you wanted. His email is julio.olaza@terra.com.pe—other than that I would say check out the excellent travel info website andeantravelweb.com, which is loaded with up-to-date info about different outfits. If you find someone you like apart from Julio, let me know. There are other suggestions for bike operators in the Cusco section of Moon Peru as well. It might also be worth checking out Manu Expeditions, as owner Barry Walker has lived in Peru now for 30 years and can point you in the right direction—if he can't organize the bike trip himself. A spectacular mtn bike ride, which I have done, is from the highlands outside of Cusco all the way to the Manu rainforest. This is like a 12,000 foot drop over 100 miles of dirt road in ONE DAY! Bring lots of intertubes.

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Minneapolis: Plans: Leave Miami for Peru first week of May, Fly to Lima and then Cuzco with some light hiking. Dilemma: Friends who were there in late May of 2006 (Machu Picchu) said it was still cold and snowy; to go later if at all possible. When I relayed this to the travel agent, she claimed "Not true...early May is fine for travel and hiking." Your response?

Ross Wehner: Friends are wrong. May is sunny and warm. Pack your bags!

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Pinole, Calif.: I've been to Machu Picchu but have never stayed at the hotel there, always below in agua calientes. How do I make reservations for the hotel right on Machu Picchu?