BJJ here. Received my new password, so now can post. Thanks for posting for me Student. I felt like the ACES thing concerning 1 boarding pass instead of 2 might be important to someone. It sure was for us. We have recovered, but lost our extra day at Macchu Picchu in Peru. Ended up in Quito instead, and really enjoyed it. At Hotel Quito, ask for a room with a view of the mountains. The pool is heated, and really nice. Breakfast buffet is delicious, with your choice of 4 fresh squeezed juices. Their internet access is kinda quirky. It would be worth the money even at full rate of $70. Shuttle only brought us TO the hotel, not BACK. Cab fare was only a couple bucks though. Quito is a beautiful place.
It is cold in Cuzco. It is fairly cold in Quito. Very high altitude. Had a bit of altitude sickness. Managua, Caracas, and Lima are pretty ugly. Garbage everywhere. Doesn`t feel safe. We did some pretty budget hotels, and that made things worse, I guess. If you can spring for the fancy hotels, you`d be better off.
Watch your bags carefully in Bogota and everywhere. I had a bag stolen from beside my feet as I changed money. Luckily I didn`t lose my passport and credit cards and money. I did lose tickets and three precious boarding passes. Recovery has been difficult.
Almost nobody speaks english in Bogota. There is a counter near (almost directly across from) the ACES desk for tax exemption. You don`t have to pay departure tax if you don`t stay overnight. Nobody will tell you this. We weren`t able to stay in the international area and connect from Avianca to Acess, but dodged the tax this way.
Now in Pamama City at the brand new Holiday Inn. Very much like USA. Its a long way from the airport - maybe 30 minutes. We got a Thrifty manual transmission compact something-or-other for $32 with a Gold Visa or an American Express. Downhill from here: back to Guatemala and then home. Later, BJJ