Meet Peru.
Unimaginable, humbling. Breathtaking, grit. Majestic, awe. Intriguing, powerful.
Those are a few of the words that first came to mind as we tried to describe our experiences at Machu Picchu. I would also say that that is a pretty accurate description of our time in Peru as well. The trip opened us and challenged us in different ways, encouraged us to look at the world a little differently, look at people a little differently, look at ourselves a little differently, and it was all for the better in what always seems to be the best timing.
South America was never at the top of my bucket list - I don't know what I was thinking. When I went to Argentina for the first time in 2015, my love for the continent was sparked, and the fire has grown even more so after Peru. As is the case with many, Machu Picchu is a bucket list staple, and when one of my friends was planning to head to Peru with her brother, the stars aligned and planning began! Check out highlights from our trip below (with more photog highlights here as well!).
1. 3-day Jungle Trek to Machu Picchu = bike + raft + zip + hike
Take a scenic drive to where you're eye to eye with the clouds, experience an Inca toilet, then mountain bike down Abra Malaga. After a lunch break, get on a raft down waters that meet with the Amazon, play a few dizzingly games, then relax the muscles at the beautiful hot springs in Santa Teresa (we weren't supposed to do all three in a day but hey, we got lucky!).
The next morning, sacrifice some shut eye to zip line above the river and through the trees then head off on the trek through the Sacred Valley to Aguas Calientes. Top it all off with a 4am start to Machu Picchu and watch the sun rise above the mountains. Needless to say, it was some of the best moments on the trip (thank you Loki Travel!). We met amazing people along the way, witnessed spectacular views, and tested our strength mentally and physically many times over. Speaking of testing our strength - don't forget the hike up Machu Picchu mountain. With an altitude of 3,061.28 meters, it's almost 2,000 meters higher than the mountains I'm used to in Seattle. While it felt like a never ending stair master, it did reward you with a gorgeous lookout over Machu Picchu (check out the pano below - yup, gorg.). For next time - hike up Huayna Picchu!
(Tip: Loki also offers a 4-day trek that includes a longer (but beautiful) hike that we heard really good things about if you have an extra day to spare. When in Aguas Calientes, it was also one of the best decisions to book a roundtrip bus ride to and from Machu Picchu to save energy for the actual hike up.)
2. Inka Massage
Post trek, this was amazingly relaxing. The Inka Massage at Nueva Vida was fitted with coca leaves & eucalyptus aromas, hot stones, and coca cream, a wonderful budget massage for 80 soles.
And while we're on the topic of budget pampering, if you ever find yourself in Lima with some time to relax, check out Toque X. They're got a little bit of everything to renew your post trekking self.
3. Sip 'n grub
Warm baked bread & sandwiches with fresh juices in a minimalist setting - must get the avocado sandwich next trip! - El Pan de la Chola, Lima
Breakfast with a plaza & beyond view complete with coca tea (aka Peruvian Powerade & altitude sickness relief) in the cutest mug (below) - Cappuccino Cafe, Cusco
Atmosphere + Peruvian wine + guinea pig appetizer + alpaca + every other delicious dish we had = yum. - Cicciolina, Cusco
Mansion bar with a variety of pisco sours on the menu - I'm there. - Ayahuasca, Lima
Not pictured: two other Peruvian dishes I'd highly recommend are the lomo saltado (the risotto version at Mangos in Centro Comercial Larcomar was quite the nice fusion) & the arroz con mariscos (especially in Paracas). And of course, have your fair share of pisco sours and as much of the selection (if not all) of Cusqueña beer.
4. Locals & the amazing characters you meet along the way
Peruvians posses such a vibrant and welcoming culture. They also make car rides through the Sacred Valley at night literally a ride (as my friend would say, think the Indian Jones ride). And if you're able to book parts of your trip with a hostel (again, Loki Travel was awesome) or with services like Peru Hop, you're guaranteed to encounter some pretty great people.
Shout out to the hilarious Irish men, our German guardian angel, the power couple from Colorado, hungry Italians (at least one), free spirited Uruguayans, inspiring British women & the future docs, and all those exploring life from Montreal, New Zealand, LA, and elsewhere. Plus of course Guillermo, he knows the best spots around Salinas de Maras and the surrounding Cusco area.
5. Dune Buggy and Sand Boarding at Huacachina
Take a rollercoaster-like ride in a buggy (when you tell your driver, "Muy rapido!", you're set.), board down the sand dunes face first (and eat sand in the process), and watch the sun set over the horizon. We were fine wearing shorts & sandals, but if you'd prefer not to sand board as fast, you'll probably want actual shoes to help slow you down.
(Tip: if you only have one night in Huacachina, walk up the dunes the first night and watch the full sunset since you'll only have time to catch a glimpse of it after sand boarding.)
6. Peru Hop
With only a week and a half and not much time to plan things out, Peru Hop made things easy and enjoyable to check out more sites, meet cool people, and already have suggested places for stay.
Coming full circle:
I already knew I wanted to be back in Peru before I even left. They've got a little bit of everything - from city life to rich culture to endless opportunities to remove yourself from the hustle and bustle to challenging your wits. Plus, it made for a great setting for some life reflections and epiphany moments. A few main takeaways:
Let go of the shoulds and this so-called timeline - what feels right for you? What fuels the fire within you? Chase that. Do what you need to do to be life giving.
Team work makes the dream work - thankful for moments to share sweat and walk the walk with one another. Challenging times are that much lighter with the care of others.
At the end of the day, it doesn't matter where you are, people are what make the difference. People are your home. What is your purpose for those you encounter? It's the best feeling when you can look at someone and think, now I know why I met you. And I hope to have that same kind of effect with those I meet too.
Be open and vulnerable and human for people to be the same with you. It's scary, but it's real. And real is always better.
Disconnect to connect. Whether it be taking a social media hiatus (or limiting it) or taking yourself outside of your usual environment/daily routine, pressing the reset button every so often is exactly what you need to re-center yourself and keep working toward and living the vision.
The digs:
Stay
Casa Wayra, Lima (Miraflores)
Variety of rooms available, clean, shared refrigerator, friendly staff, walking distance or a short taxi ride away to much of Lima
Casa Nuestra, Lima (Barranco)
Modern & clean amenities, colorful interior design, kitchen with filtered water, Tess was very helpful with local recommendations
Niños Hotel, Cusco
Budget hotel supporting neglected children in Peru - won my heart. Both Meloc & Fierro locations and restaurants were lovely and close to the center of town.
Residencial Los Frayles, Paracas
Comfortable & clean with two nice pool areas. Just a close walk away from shore and various restaurants.
Hostal Curasi, Huacachina
Central location in the oasis with comfortable rooms and a tranquil pool area.
Transportation
Taxi green or recommendation from hostel: takes about 45 min to get into Lima, but you'll want to give yourself about 2 hours buffer when going back to the airport (depending on the day). Pricing should be 50 - 65 soles.
Taxi from Cusco airport to Santa Maria: there was a private car stand at the airport for 40 soles, but we got a ride back to the airport for 15 soles through the hotel (with Guillermo!)
Peru Hop: perfect for flexible travels throughout Peru. Comfortable buses, itinerary/activity/stay suggestions, and a great way to meet fellow travelers.
Photos
Canon SL1, GoPro Hero 4 & iPhone 6
Tips:
Pack light - think multi use/purpose items. Believe me, I had a love/hate relationship with my backpack. Stick to the (cute) essentials and you'll thank yourself over (and over, and over again).
Backpack - on the topic of backpacks, make sure you get a nice pack that you can trek miles with. And on the topic of packing, packing cubes made my life.
Altitude sickness - this is a real thing. I thought I could probably get away with riding it out but am so thankful I was able to get altitude sickness pills. Coca tea, hydration (including wine 😉), and getting rest definitely helped. You'll want to make sure you give yourself a day or two to acclimate before you exert yourself too much because it's likely you'll feel tingles and/or have headaches.
Itinerary: it's tempting to want to do everything, but limiting yourself to the essentials first gives you the chance to truly soak everything in. If you're not too strapped for time, it's also nice to not book everything in advance so that you have the flexibility to change your plans depending on who you meet and what you hear about along the way.
Any questions, comments, or suggestions for next time? Let me know!