Peru

Peru at a Glance:

Known most popularly for Machu Picchu, Peru is one long country with a LOT more to offer- from diving into the diverse rain forest (hello Amazon!), surfing sand dunes in a vast desert, surfing the big waves at the beach, trekking the highest mountain range in the Western hemisphere, and of course exploring ancient Inca ruins- this country has something to offer any adventurous spirit. On top of that,  with tours easy to find and book, lodging and food cheap commodities, why not find yourself in Peru? 

Is it safe?

In general, yes! But like travelling in any larger cities, petty crime can be common so travelers should be wary and vigilant in protecting their valuables. It helps to speak Spanish for getting around and being aware of your surroundings, and if in doubt- just book a tour. 

Best time to visit:

In general, it’s best to book your trip between May- October during Peru’s dry season. The shoulders are risky and if visiting during the rainy season, your treks run the risk of being cancelled due to unsafe conditions not to mention mountain views may be too cloudy to enjoy. The dry season is also good for treks in the Amazon as the mosquito population is somewhat reduced (though still worth mentioning) 

* If you plan on doing an Amazon RIVER trip, best book in the wet season or in the shoulder (May) in order to ensure the rivers are high enough for boating tours. 

Currency: Peruvian Sole 

Language: Spanish 

What to pack? 

You can find my packing list here. For lower levels trips, plan for humid to coastal weather. If you are visiting Cuzco, plan for colder nights at high elevations and bring some warm clothing. 

Top things to see: 

1. Machu Picchu 
2. The Sacred Valley 
3. The Inca or Salkantay Trail 
4. Cusco City
5. The Amazon Rainforest 
6. Rainbow Mountain
7. Maras Salt Mine 

The hike to Machu Picchu Mountain

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  A visit to Machu Picchu seems to be on everyone’s bucketlist, as it should be. The ruins incredibly sacred, scenic, and unlike any other in the world. It’s nestled high in the mountains amongst the Andes glacier topped mountains and low valley jungles. Whether you decide to do a ...

Salkantay Trek Day 4- Llactapata

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    Day 4 Highlights : 1. The Llactapata Ruins- RIGHT in front of Machu Picchu 2. The various views of Machu Picchu (above, across, below) 3. Getting to hike along original Inca trail 4. Sunrise on a stunning valley 5. Continued jungle wildlife- especially birds      Day 4 ...

Salkantay Trek Day 3- Waterfalls and hot springs

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  The camp we started at looking up the canyon we hiked the previous day Highlights of Day 3 1. Waterfalls 2. Soaking in hot springs 3. Visiting and learning about many plantations along the trail 4. Sampling plantation wears. 5. Definitely getting our faces painted with trail side berries ...

Salkantay Trek 2- Conquering Salkantay Pass

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Highlights of Day 2:  1. THE BEST VIEWS OF THE ENTIRE TREK2. Experiencing the change of scenery from alpine to jungle3. The fun jungle huts and being DONE with the hardest day Day 2 Stats: Distance: 22km/ 14 milesElevation gain: 3,000 feetElevation loss: A whopping 6300 feetTime: 10 hours   ...

Salkantay Trek – Humantay Lake

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Salkantay Trek – Humantay Lake   The moment you’ve all been waiting for, and most definitely my main excuse for visiting Peru I give you the Salkantay Trek. I’ll likely write up an overview of this trek/ tour to compare with the Inca trail tours but to start with you ...

Horseback riding in Cusco

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  While our first 2 days in Cusco were enjoyable, this day really BROUGHT it. It was one of the first tours I landed upon when searching things to do in Cusco for a half day and for only $65 riding, it really intrigued me. So far the only other ...

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