Peru: Machu Picchu & the Sacred Valley 2022
Peru is a beautiful country. Lima is one of the best culinary cities in the world. Abercrombie and Kent tour, our resident tour guide was Marcial Cruz great guide. I arrived two days early and had booked a few of my own tours. I do this through Viator, a trip advisor website that you can book anything you want in almost every country.I did a cooking class learning how to make ceviche which was delicious. They took us through the markets, so many different fruits I have never seen. We flew to Cusco, 11,000 feet above sea level. On route to our lodge we stopped at Awana Kancha where South American camelids are bred. We fed the llamas and alpacas and learned about the fibers from their coats. Our hotel was in the Sacred Valley spectacular views of the Andes.
We had gone to one of the projects philanthropy that A & K supports, earlier Ninos del Arco Iris, children of the rainbow. We also went to a local, village to learn the customs, we had a ceremony with a shamen, ate lunch locally. Needless to say it was a jammed packed day. We finally got back to our hotel only to find that we were going to have a short lecture by a renowned scholar, maybe 15 minutes to learn about Machu Picchu before going, so we were told. I was at my limit for the day, and could not listen to one more thing. The lecture was about 1.5 hours, felt like 10 to me. Then we went to dinner. I was told that I was using my outdoor voice during the lecture this professor liked hearing himself talk. If you know me I just had had enough! I wanted dinner and a glass of wine.
We explored Ollantaytambo, a fortress and the biggest victory the Incas had over the Spanish. Treat yourself to first class on the Inka Rail and ride through the Andes and look at the amazing scenery on the way. Our hotel was at the foot of Machu Picchu really beautiful, we had a Pisco tasting at the bar, enjoy a Pisco sour. That evening, I told the bartender he should have done the lecture last night that he was much more entertaining, everyone looked at me and burst out laughing. I have no filter sometimes. Explore Machu Picchu built in the 15th century during the Inca Empire. Called the “Lost City” historian Hiram Bingham discovered it in 1911, this location was already know to the locals. We explored for two days, and extremely lucky because they went on strike the day after and you couldn’t get in or out. WHEW, very fortunate.
Peru Things to see:
Best thing to do in Lima
- Visit the Plaza de Armas, the capital.
- Visit it the beautiful cathedral in the Plaza
- Visit the bohemian neighborhood of Barranco
- Take a cooking class and go into the local markets where you buy ingredients for your class
Best things to do in Machu Picchu
- Hike up to the ruins of the Sun gate, where the Inca trail begins
- Explore the ruins with a guide
- Machu Picchu is 8,000 feet above seat level
Best things to do Cusco
- Visit the Plaza de Areas and the Santo Domingo Temple
- Visit the ruins of Sacsayhuaman, built by the Incas of gigantic stones
- Shop in Cusco they have wonderful stores
The beautiful Moasterio Hotel courtyard built in the 16th century formerly a monastery
A shaman did a ceremony the traditional offering to Mother Earth.
Part of my group, I was surprised and lucky enough to have one of the couples that were on my very first trip.
Llamas in Machu Picchu
Sacred Valley a remote village we visited where they showed us their way of life, crafts, weaving, cooking.
Accommodation
1. Lodge and Hotels
Lima I stayed at the Miraflores Park Hotel, a Belmond property. It was on the coast with views of the Pacific. Sacred Valley at Inkaterra Hacienda Urubamba a 3.5 hour train ride from Machu Picchu. It has 83 casitas on the property truly beautiful, stone paths built into the mountain. Machu Picchu, at the Sanctuary Lodge, a Belmond property and the only hotel located next to Machu Picchu. Cusco, Monasterio, a Belmond property. One of the most beautiful hotels I have ever been to. Courtyard blooming with flowers.
2. Tips
Comfortable walking shoes a must because of the stone paths. Hiking shoes for Machu Picchu. The paths can be very slick as I found out and fell down a flight of stone stairs. I can’t believe I wasn’t hurt, only my pride because I was the one that kept telling everyone when it was slippery. Bring altitude medicine. I wasn’t going to and at the last minute my doctor recommended it. I am so grateful I brought it. It was difficult climbing because of the thin air. I had a cooking class in Lima with two young women early 20’s they just has been in Cusco and Machu Picchu. One was fine the other woman was sick for 2 days she said take the medicine. I was debating whether to so glad I listened to her.
Currency: The official currency of Peru is the Nuevo Sol (S/.). 1 Nuevo Sol is equivalent to 3.75 USD. I went to a bank in Lima and exchanged money the second day I was there. You do get the best exchange rates at a bank.
Credit Cards & ATMs: I didn’t have a problem using any type of credit card in Peru. Shops, restaurants, and hotels accept credit cards, I don’t usually use ATMs but they were available everyplace.
Final thoughts
I loved Peru, it was one of my favorite countries that I have been to. Scenery was spectacular, food amazing everywhere we went. You have to try a fish called Paiche the largest fresh water fish that they have in the Amazon around 440 pounds they told me. Delicious. I ate ceviche almost everyday, the wine was great. This is a foodie heaven.
The hotels where we stayed were some of the nicest I have been to. With accommodations to match. In Lima I had my own sauna in my room. Needless to say I was shocked but AHHH so wonderful. Machu Picchu and the train ride I loved and truly fell in love with the city of Cusco. I felt safe. I walked everywhere by myself in Lima and Cusco. People hugged me when I would buy something from them. So heartwarming I found.
Leave a Reply