Random Post 2

My Trip to Peru

Reflecting on my past month, I found my trip to Peru the most memorable. Many of my friends were curious about my experience in Peru, so I'll dedicate my random post to my Peru trip. Read more to learn about my itinerary, recommendations, and overall rating of Peru!

Why Peru 

I wanted to pick a destination with equal adventure and relaxation for my last spring break in college. I didn't want to feel bored sitting at a beach for a week, but I didn't want to completely exhaust myself. After some research, I found that Peru would offer me the perfect balance between the two. It has beaches to chill at and gorgeous sights like the Machu Picchu to explore. My parents visited Peru during COVID-19 and had a great experience, encouraging me to book the trip. 

The Itinerary (Long Version)

There are two primary hubs in Peru, one being Lima and the other Cusco. Lima is Peru's capital, and most international flights go to this city. Lima is home to some of the best restaurants in the world, and most people spend a day or two exploring the food scene. Many people stop in Lima for a day or two and then fly into Cusco after. Compared to Lima, Cusco is much more "activity-packed" as you can visit the sacred valley and the Machu Picchu. You should plan at least three to four days to explore Cusco. One or two days for the Cusco city and the rest for the sacred valley and Machu Picchu. After visiting Cusco, you would need to fly back to Lima as there are minimal international flights to Cusco. 

I decided to follow the typical Peru itinerary as described above. I flew into Lima from LAX, with one transfer to Miami. The flight was around 12 hours, so I recommend booking a red-eye flight to maximize sleep. I visited many great restaurants in Lima and explored the nightlife and various districts. When visiting Lima, I'd recommend exploring Miraflores (the most popular and safe), Barranco (the arts district), and the main square (Plaza de Armas). 

After a few days in Lima, I flew into Cusco. I booked a one-day sacred valley tour to better understand the history. The tour included transportation and entry tickets, which made planning much more accessible. After many hours of driving and train rides, I reached Machu Picchu on day 6. I highly recommend finding a tour guide as it gives you the most comprehensive view of its rich history. After Machu Picchu, we returned to Cusco city and flew back to Lima to catch our flight to LAX.

The Itinerary (TLDR Version)

The itinerary I described might sound confusing, so here is a condensed version. I also included a map visualization and my Excel schedule.

Lima > fly to Cusco > car ride to the Sacred Valley > drop off in Ollytantambo > catch a train to Machu Picchu town, Aguas Calientes > arrive in Aguas Calientes > visit Machu Picchu via bus (and then reverse everything when going back)






The Highlights

I had high expectations for Machu Picchu, and it did not disappoint. The views were stunning, to say the least. It felt unreal to see the lost Inca kingdom sitting in the middle of the mountains. You will also be surrounded by llamas when you visit. The photos speak for themselves! 



Besides the Machu Picchu, I was also incredibly impressed by Peruvian cuisine. The seafood is fantastic, and all the ingredients are freshly sourced. Fun fact, ceviche was invented in Peru. There's also a ton of Japanese (aka Nikkei) influence in Peruvian cuisine. If I had to choose my favorite restaurant, it would undoubtedly be Merito. It's sort of like modern Peruvian food. Everything on the menu was delicious and BEAUTIFULLY presented. See my sheet for more food recs! Again, the photos will speak for itself. 



*other great eats



Pro Tips

1. Book Machu Picchu tickets EARLY. You must book these at least a month or two in advance because they sell out quickly. 

2. Pay attention to the date format when booking tickets because Peruvians follow the dd/mm/yyyy format instead of mm/dd/yyyy. This actually caused a minor conflict during my trip because the train company issued me a ticket for December 3, 2024 instead of March 12, 2024. 

3. Book restaurants early (two weeks in advance)

4. Be prepared for the 12,000 ft elevation in Cusco. Many pharmacies will sell altitude sickness pills but just be warry before visiting.

5. Keep a phone strap with you when travelling as there may be pick pocketers. I was also advised to not bring anything too lavish looking to prevent petty thefts.

6. Use Uber or Cabify for rides! My rides usually cost no more than $10. 

7. Try the national drink Pisco Sour. SOO good.

Useful Links 

my planning sheet: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1DTJN855WFb_C4FF9q8CXvdOrAN8IkSsezMa7jFEd9oQ/edit#gid=0

Machu Picchu ticket website: https://tuboleto.cultura.pe/

Comments

  1. Vivian 340April 7, 2024 at 10:25 PM

    Hey Hannah! I LOVE how organized and detailed your itinerary is! Seeing Machu Picchu must have been incredible, especially with the company of some llamas. I will definitely have to keep a copy of your spreadsheet as I am looking for somewhere to travel after grad and after hearing about how great your experience was, I might have to consider it!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Ramneek SinghApril 7, 2024 at 10:50 PM

    From the photos you posted the food looks amazing. I'll surely refer back to this extensive guide on visiting Peru! I really appreciate the thought you put in and the depth of this post!

    ReplyDelete
  3. ElmiraApril 8, 2024 at 11:41 AM

    Hey Hannah! This trip looks incredible and made me want to go to Peru badly. I love that you included the pictures as well. Thank you for the detailed tips!

    ReplyDelete

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