Lima
For most who visit Peru, the emphasis is on Machu Picchu... for good reason. However, most fly into Lima, which shouldn't be overlooked. Foodies know this, as the neighborhood of Miraflores offers so many options for fresh ceviche and Peruvian delicacies that food tours are extremely popular.
Cusco and the Sacred Valley
Getting to Machu Picchu isn't exactly easy - there is a reason that it was left undiscovered for 500 years!
This means that from Lima, you'll fly to Cusco, (often spelled Cuzco), a city located at 11,400 feet which was the historic capital of the Inca empire. There is so much to explore here, my favorite being the ruins at Sacsayhuaman (pronounced similarly to Sexy-Woman for the American) and admiring the Incan architecture, which withstood earthquakes much more successfully than the Spaniards' work from centuries later due to their incredible engineering methods.
After acclimating (many have a little trouble with the altitude, so it takes a bit of patience), head into the Sacred Valley of the Incas, nestled between Cusco, Machu Picchu, and the surrounding Andes Mountains.
This means that from Lima, you'll fly to Cusco, (often spelled Cuzco), a city located at 11,400 feet which was the historic capital of the Inca empire. There is so much to explore here, my favorite being the ruins at Sacsayhuaman (pronounced similarly to Sexy-Woman for the American) and admiring the Incan architecture, which withstood earthquakes much more successfully than the Spaniards' work from centuries later due to their incredible engineering methods.
After acclimating (many have a little trouble with the altitude, so it takes a bit of patience), head into the Sacred Valley of the Incas, nestled between Cusco, Machu Picchu, and the surrounding Andes Mountains.
- Explore traditional markets in the village of Pisac
- Stop in Urubamba to enjoy lunch
- Travel to the mysterious Ollantaytambo (pictured left below) ruins to explore ancient homes, terraces, and temples within the fortress walls
- Visit the Salt Mines of Maras (pictured right below), which consists of 3,000 small pools roughly 5 sq meters in size carved into the mountain side. These are filled daily by a stream of water.
Machu Picchu
After spending some time in the Sacred Valley, you have a couple of options to get to Machu Picchu. The first is a 3.5 day hike at high altitudes; the second is a train into Aguas Caliente and then a short switchback bus ride to the site itself.
Machu Picchu is the highlight of any Peru trip. In short, people will tell you that it is magical, surreal and larger than life. You end up feeling like it might be a disappointment because there is so much hype. But you are wrong.
Abandoned in 1450, the Spanish never found this incredible "Lost City of the Incas" during their colonial period... thus leaving it in relatively pristine condition until American historian Hiram Bingham brought it to international attention in 1911. Perhaps because of this, you truly feel like you've gotten a peek into something very special. Surrounded by a jungle of mountains, visiting leaves you with both the feeling that there is definitely something greater than you at play in the world and profound gratitude that you were able to have the experience of being there.
Machu Picchu is the highlight of any Peru trip. In short, people will tell you that it is magical, surreal and larger than life. You end up feeling like it might be a disappointment because there is so much hype. But you are wrong.
Abandoned in 1450, the Spanish never found this incredible "Lost City of the Incas" during their colonial period... thus leaving it in relatively pristine condition until American historian Hiram Bingham brought it to international attention in 1911. Perhaps because of this, you truly feel like you've gotten a peek into something very special. Surrounded by a jungle of mountains, visiting leaves you with both the feeling that there is definitely something greater than you at play in the world and profound gratitude that you were able to have the experience of being there.
