Without a doubt, trekking in the Peruvian Andes will allow you to see some of the most stunning beautiful landscapes in the world, bring you to remote villages with entirely unique cultures…and leave you, literally, breathless. All this beauty surrounding you is roughly somewhere between 9,000 and 16,000ft. above sea level; and chances are you […]
26
Apr
Apr
So you’ve dreamed of going to Machu Picchu… and you’ve thought about hiking the Inca Trail… and you’re curious what it’s like? The Inca Trail is one of the world’s classic treks, and it is a fantastic experience for anyone willing to take the effort to make the trek. The traditional Inca Trail trek was […]
Adventure Travel, Inca Trail Trek, Machu Picchu Travel, Peru Travel, Travel Tips, Trekking in Peru, Trip Reports
Cusco’s Top 10 List: What to Do and What to Avoid
12
Jan
Jan
At the two-month anniversary of my arrival in Peru, I feel ready to offer a little unsolicited advice about what I recommend as do’s and don’ts before and during your trip to Cusco, Peru, and the surrounding area. Listed in no particular order, I’ll begin with my list of do’s. TOP TEN THINGS TO DO […]
21
Dec
Dec
My mom is a better hiker than I am. This was proved to me when we embarked on the epic Choquequirao to Machu Picchu trek together. I had been traveling all around Latin America, doing adventurous and dumb things, thinking I was kind of a hot-shot traveler. My mom was totally game to join on […]
Adventure Travel, Peru Travel, Travel Tips, Trip Reports
Lessons from seven months in Peru, and the value of travel
01
Aug
Aug
I’ve been back in Montana for a month now, trying to figure out a new routine in a place I’m grateful to call home for its beauty, the chance to ride or hike for hours from my back door, and a great community of people that extends across an entire state. More importantly, I’m trying […]
As of July 15th 2011, the Peruvian government has started enforcing new rules for those wanting to climb Huayna Picchu (the big sugar loaf mountain behind Machu Picchu). Many of your guidebooks and online resources probably won’t contain these latest updates, so read up on the newest regulations here before you embark on your Peru […]
Needless to say, we woke up on the morning after our huge day of climbing to and descending from Choquequirao a little behind the eight ball in terms of energy and motivation. Once again we listened to the group next to us awake before dawn for the climb out of the canyon and back to […]
When the only other group camping at Playa Rosalina woke up way before dawn to begin the climb to Choquequirao we had a good indication that this was going to be a big day…and that certainly turned out to be an understatement. Unfortunately for us, neither my friend nor I could muster that same pre-sunrise […]
After a couple of days back in Cusco it was time for another excursion – this time to a new and unknown area of Peru. I’ve been interested in traveling to Arequipa since I got here due to the inspiring pictures of the palm-treed city with snow-capped volcanoes looming in the distance and the mouth-watering […]
The day after the Inca Downhill we were pretty much toast, and ready for a little R and R in the Sacred Valley. While the main plaza can be all hustle and bustle as the many tourist buses unload and load again, just a few blocks away the peace and quiet allow the true beauty […]
There were rumors circulating for a while when I first arrived in Peru this fall that Peru’s Megavalanche downhill race was a thing of the past. Turns out that’s true, kind of. This year the race was reorganized and renamed the Inca Downhill to differentiate this uniquely Peruvian race course from a larger DH race […]
In keeping with the Andean tradition of vibrant, colorful celebrations to mark religious occasions, Cusco unveils a whole host of processions and specialties in the week leading up to Easter Sunday. Every day last week there was a parade complete with singing choirs of children and ornately sculpted religious figures on floats covered in floral […]
If there aren’t too many splurge nights figured into your travel budget, it’s always good to know where in a town you can get a tasty meal that will fill you up for a day of exploring without costing much. Since you may not want to gamble on eating from the street carts after only […]
After falling asleep to clear skies I woke up on the morning of our first day on the trail to a steady rain that made it seem like some great deity in the sky had turned the faucet on full-blast. Sigh. We’re definitely moving out of rainy season, but this was another reminder that in […]
This past weekend I was lucky enough to tag along with a guide friend for a 3-day trip to Mt. Salkantay to do some route and camp site reconnaissance. Earlier in the week we made a general plan to leave Cusco on Saturday afternoon and make our way to Mollepata, about 2 hours from town, […]
15
Apr
Apr
With so many fantastic choices, it can be difficult to narrow the field down when people ask me for restaurant recommendations for a nice dinner in Cusco. There are, however, three stand-outs from recent memory that I have eaten at when visitors were in town; and the budget was expanded to accommodate this relative luxury. […]
Cusco is a beautiful city, and the people here are generally great. This is is a fantastic place to explore Peru’s intricately layered history, culture, and recreational opportunities. It is also, however, a city whose residents’ primary way of making a living is tourism – not only in the direct sale of tours and treks […]
This weekend heralded my return to really fun, really fast downhill and single track mountain biking in and around Cusco. After two months of being rained out – and a little post-wreck nervousness- I got back on my bike for a few laps on the local Yuncaypata downhill classic. The fact that the ride is […]
31
Mar
Mar
Early morning is definitely the most peaceful time in Cusco; before the multitudes of people, taxis, and buses take to the streets to begin another day in a vibrant and somewhat chaotic city. And now that the rain is letting up I’m reminded by the bright sunlight pouring through the skylight in my room how […]
Ok, so you’re looking at your 15-day itinerary hitting all the highlights of Peru: you’ll be dune surfing and flying over the mysterious massive carvings in Nazca, heading to Cusco and the Sacred Valley with a visit to Machu Picchu included, and spending a few days exploring the lush cloud forest and wildlife in Manu […]
24
Mar
Mar
Our intrepid Peru traveler, Shannon, gives us a first-hand account of the famous climb up Wayna Picchu (or Huayna Picchu) at Machu Picchu. If you are afraid of heights, hiking up the jutting peak in the middle of the Machu Picchu Sanctuary may not be for you. But, if you’re looking for a thrill and […]
24
Mar
Mar
It can safely be said that Aguas Calientes’ (newly renamed Machu Picchu Pueblo) reason for being is it’s fortunate designation as the last stop before Machu Picchu. Every day, year-round, the trains from Cusco and the Sacred Valley unload hundreds – if not thousands- of eager visitors here. The sheer number of annual visitors and […]
Visiting Machu Picchu is an amazing experience, and if your travel plans bring you anywhere near the ancient sanctuary you should definitely plan on making the trip. But, navigating the ticket purchasing/route finding options isn’t necessarily what I would describe as easy. Getting to Machu Picchu from Cusco involves a combination of train and bus/private […]
One of the most frequent questions I’m asked by potential Cusco visitors, or those who already have their trips booked is “so, what’s the weather been like?” And, to be completely honest I had to cringe when answering that question for most of February and into early this month. Who wants to have to tell […]
As of today, Inca Trail permits for April and May are completely sold out, and spaces for peak season (June, July, and August) are rapidly diminishing. This is the time of year when people across the world start planning their vacations, and Machu Picchu and the world renowned Inca Trail are often at the top […]
I’ve now passed the half-way point of the time I plan on spending in Peru (note that plans are always subject to change, however), and feel certain that I’ve seen places and met people that have left vivid, permanent impressions. I also know that this experience has taught me more about myself and what I […]
In an earlier post I listed ideas for a free day in Cusco. Having acknowledged that there are great ways to learn about the city’s history and culture on your own, I’d like to make a quick case for actually taking a guided city tour. Most likely this will be your first, and perhaps only, […]
Day 2: The pounding rain beating a steady rhythm on the roof of my simple room in Mama Natividad’s guest house the night before had covered the surrounding mountain peaks in a luscious blanket of fresh white snow. For me, this discovery first thing in the morning was something of a gift. Allow me a […]
I’ll be honest, it actually is quite rainy in February – the supposed peak of the rainy season in the Peruvian Andes. In December we had a string of rainy days, and January was really pretty docile weather-wise, but February’s been full on soggy, aside from a few brilliantly sunny days thrown in for good […]
It´s show time. And, unfortunately, the show had to start for my team of dancing gorillas at 7AM…kind of rough after another night of feeling like my hotel bed was actually in the middle of the main street. But, it´s hard to stay salty when you walk into unbridled enthusiasm in costumes of every color […]
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