Peru

Peru is one of the countries that has been a bucket list item for me for years and years. It’s a country that ticks off all of the items in my list for a good adventure : culture, history, cuisine, beautiful scenery, and cool city life. Like everyone, I’ve been bombarded with social media pics of Machu Picchu, Rainbow Mountain, the Nazca Lines, Colca Canyon and all of the beautiful lakes and mountains. I’ve read the articles on the unique foods available there - ceviche, qui, potatoes, corn, etc.

Needless to say, when I was finally able to visit Peru I was so excited. 

A week is never enough time to truly explore and get to know Peru, but like most Americans who have to be strategic with their vacation –a week is what I had.

My husband and I started our journey in Lima, the capital. I’ve heard a lot of people write off Lima as a city that’s not worth more than a day but I definitely disagree. Lima had a lot to offer. There was so much good food. The ocean views were beautiful. I loved the ruins that you could walk write up to in the middle of the city. 

While there, we explored a few of the top points of interest

• Huaca Pocllana : This is one of the top tourist attractions in Lima. It’s a mud bricked pyramid that dates back to the pre-Inca era. When we went it cost 15 soles and included a guided tour in English.

• Larcomar : This shopping center is located on the coast and has some beautiful views. There are a lot of cool restaurants and shops. I’d recommend finding a spot overlooking the water and having a drink or a meal.

• Parque Kennedy: If you’re a cat lover then this is a must stop. It’s full of friendly and social cats who will sometimes walk up to you for pets.

• Parque del Amor : This spot really reminded me of Park Güell in Barcelona. The vibe is very similar. It has beautiful views including the iconic kissing statue. It’s a romantic spot for a stroll if you’re partnered up or a self-love opportunity if you’re flying solo.

In Lima, we also tried a lot of amazing food. It would be a crime to come to Lima and not try ceviche.

One of my favorite restaurants was La Lucha Sangucheria Criolla. They carry pork sandwiches that are super delicious. I recommend trying out all of the sauces. For bars, we tried La Republica del Pisco and the drinks and food were both really good. My favorite coffee place was Puku Puke. We learned about it from a Marck Weins video and it was definitely worth a visit.

After a few days in Lima, we made our way to Cusco which is an incredibly touristy and busy spot. Before the trip, we had been warned about altitude sickness and we came prepared with medicine. They also recommended coca leaves and tea. The tea genuinely helped a lot. Just don’t back it with you to take home.

I didn’t experience many problems with altitude sickness, but I did wake up one morning feeling very ill and unable to walk. I had to send Joe off to retrieve me a coca tea. I felt fine after I drank the tea.

Cusco really is a cool city. The historic buildings line the street and the church and surrounding areas are fun to walk around and explore. Cusco is up in the mountains and therefore has a very different style of cuisine than Lima. While there, we ate at Kusty Kay which was an elevated dining experience that required a reservation. We also tried cuy (yes, guinea pig) at Sol Moqueguano Cusco after hearing about it in another Mark Wiens video.

While in town, I definitely recommend Saqsaywoman and visiting Plaza de Armas. There’s a lot more places of interest, but we were limited in time unfortunately.

The next day, we went to Aguas Calientes. The home of Machu Picchu. While there, we at a spot called Chullo which had beautiful views of the river. I ate their Andean Ceviche and it was delicious. We also ate at Amazonas Chifa which was an amazing blend of Chinese and Peruvian food. It was a little bit away from some of the more touristy sections and they were Spanish only.

There are many options for visiting Machu Picchu. One of the more famous routes is the Incan Trail. We opted for the train ride to Aguas Calientes and then a bus to the top. You can also hike up to the entrance from the town.

Machu Picchu far surpassed my expectations as a beautiful and cultural point of interest. Seeing it is absolutely incredible.

Before entering, I would recommend entering the bathrooms at the entrance gate. There are no bathrooms after you enter. I’d also recommend comfortable shoes and lots of layers. The temperature is very cool in the morning and warmer by the afternoon. We visited in June and had great weather.

Machu Picchu is definitely the pique de resistance in Peru. I had an amazing time visiting and exploring.