Lima is often an afterthought on visitors’ Peru itinerary. Most pass through the Peruvian capital’s airport en route to Cusco, or spend a night in a hotel near the airport if they have to. I’m here to tell you that you absolutely should spend two days in Lima! This sprawling city was once Pizarro’s capital …
The Sacred Valley (el Valle Sagrada) is my favorite place in Peru. It is home to fantastic ruins, the starting point of the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu, traditional Quechua villages and markets, incredible restaurants, and adventure activities galore. The Sacred Valley is formed by the Urubamba River north of Cusco, which wraps around Machu …
Cusco is the ancient capital of the Inca empire and modern gateway to Machu Picchu. It’s no big surprise, then, that the city boasts many museums. However, the quality of these museums varies from decent to mediocre to outright bad. To make things more confusing, only some museums are included on the Cusco Tourist Pass …
When visiting Cusco and the Sacred Valley, you will most likely need to purchase the Cusco Tourist Pass, or “Boleto Turistico”. This pass is not just recommended for saving money but it’s actually the only way that you can enter some of the top things to do and ruins in the Cusco region. In total …
The Cusco Religious Circuit Ticket is a tourist pass that gives you access to three religious sights in Cusco. It used to be four sights, but one of them is currently under major renovations and is closed. These are some of the top things to do in Cusco, but there are so many more not …
Cusco is the ancient capital of the Inca empire and gateway to Machu Picchu. It is known for its Spanish convents sitting atop Inca foundations, plethora of ruins, Quechua culture, and incredible food. I had wanted to go to Cusco and Machu Picchu for over 20 years. Other things always got in the way. So …
One of my biggest surprises in Peru was just how incredible the food is. Even in the small Sacred Valley towns where I started my trip (see my favorite restaurants in Pisac and in Ollantaytambo), the food was exceptional. Moving on to Cusco, it only got better. I came to realize that 3-star quality of …
A lot of travelers hate Aguas Calientes. They’ll tell you to get out as soon as possible. But guess what. I quite enjoyed it! Aguas Calientes means “Hot Waters”, after the hot springs in town. Also called Machu Picchu Pueblo or Machu Picchu Village, it is 100% a tourist town created solely to cater to …
The Inca Bridge (Puente Inka) at Machu Picchu is a one-of-a-kind attraction. It is one of the few remaining Inca-built bridges in existence. The bridge spans a gap in a narrow stone trail, a secret entrance to Machu Picchu, that runs along a towering cliff. Comparatively few tourists hike the short (30-minute return) trail to …
In the past, visitors to Machu Picchu were allowed to freely explore the site. However, if you visit Machu Picchu today, whether visiting on your own (yes, it’s allowed!), on a tour like this one, or as part of the Inca Trail hike, you’ll have to walk along one of its 5 circuits, or set …
