I spent 2 fabulous weeks exploring the many highlights that Peru has to offer, and it certainly lived up to my high expectations. The colour and culture is evident everywhere, and the diversity of scenery amazed me. We traveled from the Amazon jungle, to the unique and fertile Highlands of the Sacred Valley, before travelling to Lake Titicaca, the Colca Canyon & finishing in the charming desert city of Arequipa. Below are some of my highlights.
Sacred Valley of the incas
The Sacred Valley of the Incas was a highlight for me! Accompanied by amazing scenery, the region really shows off the culture and history that makes Peru so unique. We flew into Cusco, but to help acclimatise to the high altitude we went straight to the sacred valley to spend the following 2 nights at the stunning Inkaterra Hacienda Urubamba. We spent a full day sightseeing which included colourful Pisac market and the village of Mismanay where Condor Travel are supporting the local community through education and work opportunities. They provided us with a delicious lunch and we donated some items to their village from Australia.
I love how authentic Peru still is; especially in the Sacred Valley where the distinct colourful clothing is very much part of their culture & not something put on just for tourists enjoyment. This is what really stood out for me - colour and culture in spades!
Insider tip - Altitude and altitude sickness is often a concern for travelers visiting Peru, but there is tablets you can take to reduce the likelihood of developing symptoms. I always recommend avoiding alcohol whilst at high altitude and take some hydralyte sachets with you to put in your water bottle every day. They’re lightweight to pack & works a treat!
machu picchu & cuzco
Unsurprisingly the Unesco listed ancient Inca citadel of Machu Picchu was a huge highlight for me, and exceeded my very high expectations! There is a very popular 4 day Inca trek which you can do to travel to Machu Picchu, but our group took the quicker option of the Vistadome train. Our day started early by catching the train from Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientas, which is the main town at the base of Machu Picchu. This was a really comfortable service as we traveled alongside the river with some enjoyable scenery in full view from the expansive dome windows. The excitement grew as we then jumped on the bus from Aguas Calyantes; winding up the mountain until we reached the entrance gates to Machu Picchu. The location is really beautiful, surrounded by lush mountains, which adds to the awe-inspiring ancient Inca city. The way that it was built without the use of mortar, metal tools, or the wheel, makes Machu Picchu an engineering marvel. We spent the morning exploring with our guide before heading on to Cuzco in the afternoon, but we definitely recommend staying overnight at Aguas Calyantes & returning to Machu Picchu at sunrise to really maximise your experience.
The Peruvian government are now capping the number of daily visitors to protect the ancient site.
From Machu Picchu our final stop in the Sacred Valley was the charming city of Cuzco. Cuzco is actually South America’s oldest continuously inhabited city! The city itself is much larger than I expected, but the historic centre is lovely - with charming streets and atmospheric colonial buildings framed by the dramatic Ande’s mountains.
Recommendation (fav meal / drink) - You can’t go to Peru without consuming their famous pisco sour cocktails! We did a pisco sour making course in Cuzco which was a lot of fun. Favourite meal was definitely Peruvian fish ceviche. Yum!
arequipa
Arequipa was a surprise highlight for me! The charming city centre is Unesco World Heritage listed and has beautiful baroque buildings made from sillar stone (white volcanic rock), which is what gives the city its nickname ‘White City’. Arequipa is surrounded by 3 volcanoes, the largest of which is El Misti making for a dramatic backdrop to the pretty city. I loved wandering the streets in the pedestrian-only centre, and visiting Santa Catalina Monastery. Not only the monastery a photographers dream with its brightly painted buildings, but it’s arguably one of the most fascinating religious buildings in Peru. Built in 1579, it served as a cloister for Dominican nuns from the sixteenth to the eighteenth centuries, and still houses a small religious community today. I loved getting lost in the brightly coloured streets that link the 3 cloisters.
Insider tip - When shopping for souvenirs; Silver is cheaper in the Sacred Valley/Cusco whilst baby alpaca is cheaper and better quality in Arequipa so you can plan your souvenir shopping accordingly. Also I found the quality & variety better at Aguas Calyentas Market compared with Pisac Market.
Fun fact - Guinea Pig is a delicacy in Peru and they eat it on special occasions such as birthdays. We did give it a try but I found it tricky to eat because there are so many bones. The high altitude provides excellent conditions for growing produce - Peru grows 3,500 varieties of potato and 55 varieties of corn which comes in all colours including yellow, purple, white, and even blue!
