When our son decided to spend 2 years serving as a missionary in Peru, we knew we were going to move Peru to the top of our bucket list and plan a dream vacation. Finally, two years later, we arrived and -yes – it was fabulous! Of course, as circumstances would have it, we had to shorten our vacation to 10 days and miss out on some of our bucket list, but for the time we had, this itinerary was perfect! The bonus is, now that we know more about the country (and have a son who speaks the language) we will keep Peru on our list and return again to experience more.
LIMA
First on our list of stops was, of course, the capital city of Peru-Lima. This was just a quick stop for us because we had another flight to catch, so we spent a few hours exploring the historical colonial center. Beginning with Lima’s main square, the Plaza de Armas, we walked along the city streets taking in the plazas, the cathedrals, the palace, and the unique architecture. Our favorite stop was the catacombs located under the San Francisco de Asis Convent. This is a historic Lima cemetery whose underground vaults served to bury more than 25,000 people. The church itself was impressive with its Baroque-style architecture and it’s huge library.
AREQUIPA
Arequipa–the legendary White City– is an unmissable destination! This city is surrounded by 7 volcanoes. El Misti, Chachani and Pichu Pichu are the most recognizable. The buildings are made from the local volcanic rock known as sillar hence the the white color. We spent a few days here enjoying the sights, taking a walking tour, experiencing amazing food and getting to know the locals. There is so much to see and do. The main attraction here is Colca Canyon. This is one of the world’s deepest canyons and the home of the world’s largest flying bird–the Condor.
CUSCO / CUZCO
Rarely does a vacation to Peru not include the city of Cusco. It is recognized as the historic capital of Peru and renowned as the “naval of the Earth.” Cusco. is one of the 20 most popular destinations in the world! Come prepared. This city sits at an altitude over 11,000 feet! If you aren’t used to the altitude then you will want to take time to acclimate and hydrate, hydrate, hydrate. Our guide, whom we set up through Lima Tours, took us on an amazing journey around Cusco with visits to Coricancha, the Cathedral, Sacsayhuaman, Quenqo, Puca Pucara and Tambomachay. We got to feed Alpacas, eat delicious food and shop for treasures too.
SACSAYWAMAN
Yes, to English speakers, this Incan name is funny! But, the history, imposing stone walls and views from this wonderful archaeological temple are fascinating.
THE SACRED VALLEY & OLLANTAYTAMBO
Our guides spent an entire day showing us the sights, sounds, textures and colors of many villages throughout the Sacred Valley. We learned about the customs and building and farming techniques of the Incas. We visited the temple and terraces of Chinchero, were shown how Alpaca wool is spun and dyed and enjoyed the Yucay Living Museum. The views overlooking the sacred valley from Mirador Racchi were stunning! The highlight of our day was climbing the fortress of Ollantaytambo. How in the world did the pre-bronze-age Incan people build these amazing places in these steep mountains?! We joked that they must have been part mountain goat. From Ollantaytambo we boarded a train and descended the rest of the way to the village of Machu Picchu. I learned that so many people skip touring the Sacred Valley as they head straight from Cusco to Machu Picchu and back. It is well worth your time to spend a day or two or three…The Sacred Valley promises days of exploration and adventure.
MACHU PICCHU VILLAGE & CITADEL TIPS & INFORMATION
The Journey: The journey to Machu Picchu is an adventure in itself. The train meanders along the river while the scenery changes from high desert to lush rainforest and massive snow-capped peaks rise overhead. The village of Machu Picchu is steep steep steep. And should I mention the bus ride up the switchbacks to the citadel? Hold on for dear life and hope your stomach holds out. 😉
Reservations: The most important thing to mention when visiting Machu Picchu is that you must make a reservation before you arrive. There are many different routes to choose from and two different entrances once you arrive. It can get confusing, so ask your tour guide or call me here at Peak to Sea Travel for more information. We booked a package with our hotel that included dinner and the Machu Picchu tour, but found out just days before we departed that the hotel hadn’t been able to secure our tickets. I was worried that we would miss out on this most important experience, so I went ahead and “double-booked” my own tickets–just as a precaution. I chose route #4 with access to hike Huayna Picchu. What happened when we arrived in the village? The hotel sent a guide to meet us at the train station and the very first thing he did was get us a place in line to purchase last-minute entrance tickets. We waited in line for two hours! We were able to get tickets to route #2 which is from the main entrance and includes the famous overlook that everyone takes their iconic pictures from.
What to Pack: When visiting Machu Picchu, and Peru in general, it is best to wear layers and stay hydrated.
- long pants (hiking/quick-dry-type)
- a short-sleeved shirt under a long-sleeved shirt (it’s the jungle, but also can be chilly in the mornings)
- a rain jacket or poncho (most of our day was beautiful and sunny, but then the thunder and lightning started up & rain poured for about an hour)
- insect repellent (the mosquitos here are brutal!)
- non-cotton socks and sturdy shoes
- a water bottle with filtration included
- a hat to protect you from the sun/rain and a winter hat
- a small backpack to carry your water and extra clothing/umbrella in. (Large backpacks are not allowed)
- hiking poles (They are not allowed in some areas, but are allowed on the hiking trails. Lockers are available to rent if needed.)
MACHU PICCHU
We thought Ollantaytambo was amazing, and wondered if Machu Picchu could possibly top it–yes it can! The whole experience including the tropical atmosphere, the towering peaks, the awe when the fog lifts, is an inspiring and moving experience. Our guide was amazing and helped us throughout the entire journey. Take time to enjoy every minute of it!
“For the variety of its charms and the power of its spell, I do not know another place in the world that compares to it.” – Hiram Bingham, the American explorer who rediscovered the citadel of Machu Picchu in 1911
“Located on top of a mountain the middle of a tropical forest, it is considered the tourist attraction par excellence in Peru. Declared Cultural and Natural Heritage of Humanity in 1983 by UNESCO, it is probably the most amazing architectural construction of the Inca Empire. This citadel is made up of temples, palaces, terraces, monuments, complexes and walls; in addition to water channels, built with large blocks of stone, without any amalgam, proof of the great wisdom of the Inca civilization.” www.peru.travel
HUAYNA PICCHU HIKING ADVENTURE
My favorite adventure that we experienced in Peru, was our hike up Huayna Picchu. Huayna Picchu is the huge mountain that makes up the backdrop of all Machu Picchu photographs. It is 1,000 feet straight up! The steps are narrow and the trail is steep, and totally worth it! There is nothing better than the birds eye view of the tropical peaks and the Machu Picchu citadel below. I totally recommend it.
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