Hiking the Inca Trail brings many emotions. Over four days you’ll ascend into the mountains of Peru to hike over mountain passes and back down as you work your way to the legendary city of Machu Picchu. If you’re like me, you’ll also get added stress and anxiety due to mess ups with my booking. …
Nearly every person who visits Peru will stop in Cusco. It’s the historic capital city of the Inca Empire and it’s the current gateway to Machu Picchu. Since Cusco sits at nearly 12,000 feet above sea level, it’s typically recommended to spend a few days in the city acclimatizing before heading out on your treks. …
Machu Picchu is an UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the Seven Wonders of the World. It’s no surprise that so many people add a visit to their bucket list. In fact, when you travel around Peru, the most common question is “have you been to Machu Picchu yet?”. It’s just assumed that every …
Have you seen that tall mountain in the background of Machu Picchu and decided “I think that would have a great view”? Well, you should know that that is Huayna Picchu and you can climb to the top for a fantastic view of Machu Picchu. It’s a tough climb, especially if you’ve just spent the …
Pisac can make a fantastic day trip from Cusco. Rather than joining a group tour, you can take a cheap colectivo to the town of Pisac and explore the Inca ruins at the Pisac Archeological Park yourself. After days and days of guided tours around the Cusco region, it can be nice to go at …
There are numerous day trip options from Cusco, Peru, but one of my favorites was a hike through the Ausangate 7 Lakes. Along the way you’ll get views of mountains and glaciers, but the highlight is the walk around the lakes. They are picturesque and each lake is just slightly different, giving you ever changing …
Rainbow Mountain has become famous for its colorful mineral deposits, making it a popular place for people to take that perfect photo for Instagram. While Rainbow Mountain and the surrounding scenery is beautiful, it’s also important to know what you’re getting into. The hike to Rainbow Mountain is at high elevation and because of its …
If you’re hiking the Salkantay Trek from Challacancha to Aguas Calientes, your route will likely include a stop at the gorgeous Huamantay Lake. For those who aren’t hiking the full Salkantay Trek (like me), you can do a day trip to Laguna Huamantay to see it for yourself. Surrounded by towering mountains and gorgeous views, …
Arequipa is a beautiful city that gets added to a lot of Peru itineraries. While it’s not as famous as Cusco, it’s still worth a visit in my opinion. While many visitors will use Arequipa as a base for exploring the rest of the region (most notably the nearby Colca Canyon), I think the city …
The Colca Canyon is located near Arequipa, Peru and is a major draw for anyone visiting the area. It’s one of the deepest canyons in the world (nearly twice the depth of the United States’ Grand Canyon) and is also famous for its nearby condors. While plenty of visitors will just visit the Colca Canyon …
