Peru Itinerary
When we booked our tickets to Peru for January, I knew this trip would be a memorable experience. We had never been before and we were incredibly excited to see what Peru had to offer!
I must admit, I did not do much of the planning for this trip as I was incredibly busy in clinic doing extra work so I could use my days off without guilt. But my dad called me one night and asked "for our Peru trip, were you "in" on also visiting Machu Picchu?" Umm... obviously YES. I dreamed of going to Peru and Machu Picchu was a big part of that dream. It did mean an extra flight, hiring a guide, and a train ride - which we soon discovered while booking.
We planned to visit Lima and Cusco. After reading several other blogs and traveler accounts - it seems that most people land in Lima then fly to Cusco to take a train/hike to Machu Picchu.
Peru had so much to offer - colorful shops, hikes and scenery that are beyond beautiful, adorable alpacas... and I'm so excited to (finally) share with you all the highlights of my trip as well as essential tips if you decide to embark on a journey to of your own.
HIGHLIGHTS:
- Machu Picchu: photos do not do this place justice!!! One of the seven wonders of the world and we definitely saw why. It is worth the trip to see this magnificent place alone.
- Cusco: Admiring the red-rooftop Spanish colonial architecture, while being surrounded by mountain city views. And trying coca tea for the first time!
- Hiram Bingham Train: Never thought I'd laugh and dance so much on a train! This ride was a luxurious, fun experience that took us through the Sacred Valley of Peru.
- Lima: spent full days shopping for colorful sweaters, cozy blankets, and soft pillows. Enjoying the Miraflores boardwalk. The beach here is full of great waves - which meant plenty of surfers and people willing to teach the tourists for a good price.
LIMA, PERU:
After landing in Peru we headed to our hotel, the J.W Marriot that is overlooking the water. We spent each morning here walking in the city, spotting paragliders over the ocean, and surfers in the waves. We did most of our shopping in Lima as there tons of colorful Peruvian shops just a short walk away from our hotel. Plus, we had to go shopping as my sister lost her bag (which she never got until after the trip!).
Our family agreed that one of the best parts of our time in Lima was spending it on the Miraflores Boardwalk. Everyone is out with their families, friends and dogs!
CUSCO, PERU:
Cusco (sometimes spelled Cuzco) is a beautiful city in the Peruvian Andes. Cusco was once capital of the Inca Empire, and is now known for its archaeological remains and Spanish colonial architecture.
Looking back, I would have LOVED to spend more time in Cusco and explore the other areas around it (besides Machu Picchu). But time is limited and this gives us a great excuse to come back... 😉
After stepping foot on the mountainous city - we were greeted by our tour guide, Ludwin. He offered us water, coca tea, and round coca candies. At first I was confused - uh. coca??? Turns out, the coca plant is banned in South American countries except a select few, like Peru. The locals actually consume coca plant for relief from altitude sickness in Cusco. It has a great taste, but we didn't drink it past 3pm as the caffeine levels were quite high and we needed our nights rest.
ALTITUDE SICKNESS IN CUSCO:
Altitude sickness (we quickly learned the word for this in Cusco was 'soroche' or 'sickness') can be unpredictable. It kicks in at around 8,000-10,000 feet. For reference: Cusco sits at 11,000+ feet and Machu Picchu sits a little lower, at around 8,000 feet.
Cusco is higher in altitude meaning there is a larger chance for sickness. But like I mentioned earlier, to visit Machu Picchu you need to stop through Cusco first.
With the help of a little research - here's the science behind it all: higher elevations means that the air is has less pressure so each breath taken has less oxygen than what you're used to. This can cause your body to breathe faster and pump blood more rapidly - which causes the symptoms of altitude sickness.
These symptoms may include: Headaches, difficulty breathing, rapid heart rate, nausea or even dizziness.
This is not intended for medical advice!!! However, I just wanted to shed some light on the subject because some of my family members DID experience altitude sickness which affected our trip. Not everybody gets sick (I didn't) but you should be prepared.
There's no cure for altitude sickness but taking it easy, taking deep breaths, and letting your body get accustomed to the change can help (again not medical advice). Since we did not have much time in Cusco, "taking it easy" was difficult as we wanted to explore. We did try the coca tea and candies, but we're not really sure if it worked. It was worth a shot!
I recommend walking downtown to visit the San Pedro market, Temple of the Sun and Convent of Santo Domingo. We did not do an official tour as those can get quite pricey but we did enough walking around and taking pictures in the area. We took the short walk both nights that we stayed in Cusco to eat and enjoy some family time. Our favorite place (where we also celebrated New Years) was Limo Cocina Peruana & Pisco Bar. Delicious! I loved the Parihuela de pacha y cochayuyo - a traditional Peruvian fish and shellfish soup.
Machu Picchu: (1 day)
After the train ride, we arrived at Machu Picchu station. A guide led us on a walk to a bus stop that would take us higher on the mountain.
After the bus ride, we arrived!
Our tour guide met us at the gates of Machu Picchu. He told us we were not allowed to exit and re-enter so to take any necessary bathroom trips now and to triple check we had everything!
Machu Picchu is an Incan citadel set high in the Andes Mountains in Peru, overlooking the Urubamba River. The exact use is unknown but they say it was made for the emperor Inca.
TIPS:
- SUNSCREEN: This ones a no-brainer. You should be wearing SPF everywhere you go. But I have to reinforce it as you'll be hiking on an open mountain midday so slather it on! Also bring your sunglasses (and a hat if you'd like).
- BUG SPRAY: Yep there were mosquitos the sizes of horses on this trip. Beware!
- BOOK IN ADVANCE: Like I said, you absolutely need to plan and buy your Machu Picchu tickets early. They are not sold at the gate.
- PASSPORT STAMP: Since we were required to carry our passports on the trip to Machu Picchu, we got our passports stamped after our Machu Picchu hike.
- WATER/SNACKS: You aren't allowed in and out of the site so a good whole grain bar is useful. We also bought hand sanitizer to use before we snacked away.
I must admit, I did not do much of the planning for this trip as I was incredibly busy in clinic doing extra work so I could use my days off without guilt. But my dad called me one night and asked "for our Peru trip, were you "in" on also visiting Machu Picchu?" Umm... obviously YES. I dreamed of going to Peru and Machu Picchu was a big part of that dream. It did mean an extra flight, hiring a guide, and a train ride - which we soon discovered while booking.
We planned to visit Lima and Cusco. After reading several other blogs and traveler accounts - it seems that most people land in Lima then fly to Cusco to take a train/hike to Machu Picchu.
Peru had so much to offer - colorful shops, hikes and scenery that are beyond beautiful, adorable alpacas... and I'm so excited to (finally) share with you all the highlights of my trip as well as essential tips if you decide to embark on a journey to of your own.
HIGHLIGHTS:
- Machu Picchu: photos do not do this place justice!!! One of the seven wonders of the world and we definitely saw why. It is worth the trip to see this magnificent place alone.
- Cusco: Admiring the red-rooftop Spanish colonial architecture, while being surrounded by mountain city views. And trying coca tea for the first time!
- Hiram Bingham Train: Never thought I'd laugh and dance so much on a train! This ride was a luxurious, fun experience that took us through the Sacred Valley of Peru.
- Lima: spent full days shopping for colorful sweaters, cozy blankets, and soft pillows. Enjoying the Miraflores boardwalk. The beach here is full of great waves - which meant plenty of surfers and people willing to teach the tourists for a good price.
LIMA, PERU:
After landing in Peru we headed to our hotel, the J.W Marriot that is overlooking the water. We spent each morning here walking in the city, spotting paragliders over the ocean, and surfers in the waves. We did most of our shopping in Lima as there tons of colorful Peruvian shops just a short walk away from our hotel. Plus, we had to go shopping as my sister lost her bag (which she never got until after the trip!).
We spent our days in Playa Makaha, where surfers flock for a good wave. To rent a board was about $3 and $3 for a suit if you didn't have your own. Beginner lessons started at about $20. Not bad!
Our family agreed that one of the best parts of our time in Lima was spending it on the Miraflores Boardwalk. Everyone is out with their families, friends and dogs!
CUSCO, PERU:
Cusco (sometimes spelled Cuzco) is a beautiful city in the Peruvian Andes. Cusco was once capital of the Inca Empire, and is now known for its archaeological remains and Spanish colonial architecture.
Looking back, I would have LOVED to spend more time in Cusco and explore the other areas around it (besides Machu Picchu). But time is limited and this gives us a great excuse to come back... 😉
After stepping foot on the mountainous city - we were greeted by our tour guide, Ludwin. He offered us water, coca tea, and round coca candies. At first I was confused - uh. coca??? Turns out, the coca plant is banned in South American countries except a select few, like Peru. The locals actually consume coca plant for relief from altitude sickness in Cusco. It has a great taste, but we didn't drink it past 3pm as the caffeine levels were quite high and we needed our nights rest.
ALTITUDE SICKNESS IN CUSCO:
Altitude sickness (we quickly learned the word for this in Cusco was 'soroche' or 'sickness') can be unpredictable. It kicks in at around 8,000-10,000 feet. For reference: Cusco sits at 11,000+ feet and Machu Picchu sits a little lower, at around 8,000 feet.
Cusco is higher in altitude meaning there is a larger chance for sickness. But like I mentioned earlier, to visit Machu Picchu you need to stop through Cusco first.
With the help of a little research - here's the science behind it all: higher elevations means that the air is has less pressure so each breath taken has less oxygen than what you're used to. This can cause your body to breathe faster and pump blood more rapidly - which causes the symptoms of altitude sickness.
These symptoms may include: Headaches, difficulty breathing, rapid heart rate, nausea or even dizziness.
This is not intended for medical advice!!! However, I just wanted to shed some light on the subject because some of my family members DID experience altitude sickness which affected our trip. Not everybody gets sick (I didn't) but you should be prepared.
There's no cure for altitude sickness but taking it easy, taking deep breaths, and letting your body get accustomed to the change can help (again not medical advice). Since we did not have much time in Cusco, "taking it easy" was difficult as we wanted to explore. We did try the coca tea and candies, but we're not really sure if it worked. It was worth a shot!
A short ride from Alejandro Velasco Astete Airport and we arrived at our hotel - The Hilton Garden Inn Cuzco which offered us panoramic mountain views and is nested just a walk away from downtown city.
I recommend walking downtown to visit the San Pedro market, Temple of the Sun and Convent of Santo Domingo. We did not do an official tour as those can get quite pricey but we did enough walking around and taking pictures in the area. We took the short walk both nights that we stayed in Cusco to eat and enjoy some family time. Our favorite place (where we also celebrated New Years) was Limo Cocina Peruana & Pisco Bar. Delicious! I loved the Parihuela de pacha y cochayuyo - a traditional Peruvian fish and shellfish soup.
Hiram Bingham Train:
Our tour guide met us at our hotel at 6:00 AM to drive us to the train station. He drove us through scenic mountains. We learned that Peru has 55 types of corn and 4,000 types of potatoes!
When we arrived we sat by little fireplaces in the station waiting for our train to arrive. It was super cozy for a train station.
The train to Machu Picchu was a magical, unforgettable and luxurious experience. During our ride, the maître offered us a gourmet lunch while we listened to live traditional Peruvian and international music. We found ourselves clapping and laughing along. Bushra even was chosen for a Peruvian dance with one of the actors!
After the train ride, we arrived at Machu Picchu station. A guide led us on a walk to a bus stop that would take us higher on the mountain.
After the bus ride, we arrived!
Our tour guide met us at the gates of Machu Picchu. He told us we were not allowed to exit and re-enter so to take any necessary bathroom trips now and to triple check we had everything!
Personally I would say that the hike itself up the mountain was honestly not too bad if you are in decent physical shape. It was slippery as it rained on-and-off so keep that in mind. We went during the rainy time of year so we utilized our rain jackets and boots.
Our tour guide told us about the 3-4day hike many adventurers take. Although our hike was much shorter, we still walked on the Inca Trail to the top, so we can still check that off our bucket list. 😎
We spotted Huayna Picchu mountain rising over Machu Picchu.
Like I said, the photos do not do justice... you've got to see it for yourself!
We learned so much about the culture and history of the Incas. The Incas honored natural elements; the sky, wind, mountains, moon and stars. Our tour guide told us about how the UNESCO World Heritage site was at risk of being worn down due to climate changes and the number of tourists that visit yearly. The Peruvian government has set limitations (thus the reason why there is no re-entry) to help protect the site while still allowing visitors. This is also the reason why there are now only two sets of tours that are done at Machu Picchu, a morning and afternoon tour. Considering all this, if you're trying to book a ticket to Machu Picchu, it's recommended to get a tour guide and to book in advance. Tickets are NOT available at the gate.
TIPS:
- SUNSCREEN: This ones a no-brainer. You should be wearing SPF everywhere you go. But I have to reinforce it as you'll be hiking on an open mountain midday so slather it on! Also bring your sunglasses (and a hat if you'd like).
- BUG SPRAY: Yep there were mosquitos the sizes of horses on this trip. Beware!
- BOOK IN ADVANCE: Like I said, you absolutely need to plan and buy your Machu Picchu tickets early. They are not sold at the gate.
- PASSPORT STAMP: Since we were required to carry our passports on the trip to Machu Picchu, we got our passports stamped after our Machu Picchu hike.
- WATER/SNACKS: You aren't allowed in and out of the site so a good whole grain bar is useful. We also bought hand sanitizer to use before we snacked away.
There was so much to see in Peru, and we'll definitely be back to see more of what this beautiful country has to offer. For now, I hope this has inspired you to create a journey of your own and make unforgettable memories.
Until next time, Peru!
❤️
Nesreen
