My husband and I are supposed to leave for Peru this Wednesday, and I’m really conflicted about whether to go or postpone the whole trip until April. We would lose a decent amount of money for canceling (we of course forgot to get travel insurance) but it’s not the biggest deal. I injured my foot/ankle on August 26. Imaging showed a small, minimally displaced avulsion fracture of the calcaneus, and I also seem to have an ankle sprain. I’m seeing a foot-and-ankle orthopedic surgeon before we leave, so obviously I’ll follow their medical recommendation. Right now I can put weight on it and walk around the house with relatively no to not a lot of pain at all. The boot actually hurts more. I’m not looking for medical advice here. I’m trying to figure out whether Peru is still worth doing with a significantly modified itinerary, assuming my orthopedist clears me to travel and bear weight in the boot. The timing is important because we wouldn’t be doing the major parts of the trip immediately after the injury: Injury: August 26 -Machu Picchu: September 7 — about 12 days after the injury -Amazon/Tambopata rainforest: September 9–12 — starting about 2 weeks after the injury If we go, we would modify the trip pretty significantly: airport wheelchair assistance, private drivers whenever possible, walking poles where allowed, lots of breaks, no unnecessary hiking and skipping anything that starts hurting. Machu Picchu is my biggest concern We currently have a higher panoramic Machu Picchu circuit booked for September 7. If we go with my foot still healing, we would switch to a lower/easier Machu Picchu circuit so I could still experience the ruins while reducing climbing, stairs and elevation changes. Is that realistic and doable with a mild injury? For people who have actually done Machu Picchu: is it worth postponing the entire trip so I can eventually do one of the higher viewpoints? Would I regret seeing Machu Picchu from a lower circuit and walking through the ruins instead of getting the higher panoramic experience? Or is the lower route still incredible enough that you wouldn’t postpone over that? Sacred Valley I’d also love input from people who have done these specific places. -Maras Salt Mines: Can you see and enjoy a substantial amount of it without doing much walking or uneven terrain? -Chinchero CTTC-If we mainly do the weaving demonstration and easier areas, would it still be worthwhile? -Ollantaytambo: Could I enjoy the town and see the archaeological site from the lower areas/viewpoints without climbing all the way up? Or is the climb a major part of what makes it worth visiting? Basically, are these places fairly adaptable for someone temporarily limiting their walking, or would I be missing too much? Cusco- no set plans, but what could we do with minimal walking? Amazon / Tambopata- Chuncho lodge (anyone stay here?) We arrive in the rainforest on September 9, so that would be about two weeks after the injury. This is the other major reason I’m conflicted. If we go, I would probably skip substantial trekking and potentially skip the canopy tower if the climb is too much. I’d focus more on: -river boat rides -macaw clay lick -wildlife viewing -short jungle walks -Lake Sandoval if manageable -night boat/caiman activities Forq people who have done the Puerto Maldonado/Tambopata rainforest: how much would I be giving up by skipping the canopy tower and longer walks? Is the canopy one of those experiences you’d genuinely postpone the trip to be able to do? Or would the river, wildlife, clay lick and shorter excursions still make for an incredible Amazon experience? Basically, our choices are: 1. ⁠Go now, assuming my orthopedic surgeon clears me, and accept that Peru will be a slower, modified trip where I may miss some climbs, viewpoints and hikes. 2. ⁠Move the whole trip to late April, when I should be completely recovered and can do Machu Picchu, the Sacred Valley and the rainforest without having to think about my foot. We love active/adventure travel, which is why I’m struggling with this. Part of me thinks Peru deserves to be done when I can fully participate. But everything is already planned and booked, and I don’t want to postpone if the modified version would still be an amazing trip. For people who have actually done Machu Picchu, the Sacred Valley and/or Tambopata: which would you choose? TL;DR: Small foot fracture Aug. 26 but can put weight on it and walk around the house with little to no pain. Machu Picchu Sept. 7 and Amazon Sept. 9. If my doctor clears me to go, would you postpone Peru until I can do the higher Machu Picchu viewpoints and canopy tower, or are the lower Machu Picchu circuit, boat/wildlife activities, Maras Salt Mines, Chinchero and lower parts of Ollantaytambo, Cusco still worth the trip with limited walking?