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Trip Report

Peru from the mountain to the sea

You can only be amazed by this county's beauty. From the magical Andes and their white snowy tops, the ancient city of machupichu, great city life and relaxing beaches.

  • Machu picchu City+ 10
  • Main square of Cusco
  • Around the streets of Cusco
  • Peru from the mountain to the sea
juan d hdez
About Me:I'm a very active and creative person. I love exploring different color patterns and shapes, that might be the reason why I'm a designer. I love drawing, taking pictures, and walking. I also love working in children education because their... read more

South AmericaPeru12 days / February 2015

Highs & Lows

Road trip through the sacred valley in the way to machupichu is highly recommended.

Be careful if traveling on the road with schedules since there are few cities with not so much fluency of transport.

Itinerary Overview

Arriving in Peru by road is quite an experience since the city view reflect on the lake's water in a very beautiful way. We entered the country through the city of Puno, located in lake Titicaca. After arriving there we took a bus to Cusco, capital city of the ancient Inca culture.

Once in Cusco we look for a hostel near the main square of the city, which by the way is huge and it has colonial architecture mixed with Inca ruins making it a very unique place. You can get lost in the stoned streets taking pictures of every corner. Drink a Pisco Sour or more, visit shops, museums, and have delicious food all day since peruvian cuisine is known world wide for its amazing flavors both in gourmet and street food.

From Cusco you can take tours or buses to the Sacred Valley in which you have different towns to visit in your way to Machu Picchu. Each town has its magic, there are hot springs, and rivers to go take baths, you can have amazing hikes with beautiful landscapes, visit Inca ruins along the way and always have delicious meals and drinks.

Before getting to Machu picchu there's a three hours walk to "Aguas Calientes" the closest town to the ruins of Machu picchu. You can get there by walking or you can take a ride on the touristic train.

The walking through the Urubamba canyon feels like an spiritual trip due to the powerful sound of the river, the so so green thick vegetation, the butterflies all along the way and just the peace that the place gives you. Arriving to Aguas Calientes is another great view. It looks like a lost town in the middle of nowhere. Since there are no cars it's an all pedestrian town so you can just get lost around.

We took an hour walk to Machu picchu next morning but you can also ride a bus to get there. Entering this lost city is quite a moment, I felt my breath took away the moment I saw the imposing view. All day went by walking around every street, climbing the highest tops of the complex and just staying there being amazed by this ancient human miracle.

Next stop in our trip was the capital city of Lima, so we took our way back to Cusco and took a 24 hour bus ride to the city. You go through the so called Cordillera blanca (White mountains), it's always a great view and you better be prepared to be very cold too since they are very high mountains.

When arriving in Lima we got to a friend's house and took a rest of our journey so far. Later that day we went to Miraflores, one of the most touristic places in the city, there are parks, restaurants, hotels, casinos, malls, discos, theaters, a whole and vibrant city life. 

While there we also went to the beach and to "parque de las aguas" (waters park), a place full of different fountains and water shows.

After a week of enjoying the city we continued our trip to last peruvian destination in Mancora, a beach town in northern Peru. We got ther in a 22 hour bus ride. It's an small town very prepared to receive visitors since there are several hostels in front of the sea, restaurants and shops. The sea in very blue in contrast with a dry desert-like beach. A cool place to go take a sunbath and relax.

  • 3 Nights: Cusco
    It's an historical place. To know the achitecture and culture
  • 2 Nights: Machu Picchu
    it's a sacred and historical place
  • 5 Nights: Lima
    to visit the city and get to know the culture.
  • 2 Nights: Máncora District
    Go to the beach and relax
Cusco - It's an historical place. To know the achitecture and culture
1

Cusco It's an historical place. To know the achitecture and culture

Cusco - It's an historical place. To know the achitecture and culture - Main square of Cusco
Main square of Cusco
Cusco - It's an historical place. To know the achitecture and culture - Around the streets of Cusco
Around the streets of Cusco
Cusco - It's an historical place. To know the achitecture and culture - Sacred Valley
Sacred Valley

Once in Cusco we look for a hostel near the main square of the city, which by the way is huge and it has colonial architecture mixed with Inca ruins making it a very unique place. You can get lost in the stoned streets taking pictures of every corner. Drink a Pisco Sour or more, visit shops, museums, and have delicious food all day since peruvian cuisine is known world wide for its amazing flavors both in gourmet and street food.

From Cusco you can take tours or buses to the Sacred Valley in which you have different towns to visit in your way to machupichu. Each town has its magic, there are hot springs, and rivers to go take baths, you can have amazing hikes with beautiful landscapes, visit Inca ruins along the way and always have delicious meals and drinks.

Machu Picchu - it's a sacred and historical place
2

Machu Picchu it's a sacred and historical place

Machu Picchu - it's a sacred and historical place - Urubamba Canyon
Urubamba Canyon
Machu Picchu - it's a sacred and historical place - Machu picchu City
Machu picchu City
Machu Picchu - it's a sacred and historical place - Walking around Machu Picchu1+
Walking around Machu Picchu

Before getting to Machupichu there's a three hours walk to "Aguas Calientes" the closest town to the ruins of machupichu. You can get there by walking or you can take a ride on the touristic train.

The walking through the Urubamba canyon feels like an spiritual trip due to the powerful sound of the river, the so so green thick vegetation, the butterflies all along the way and just the peace that the place gives you. Arriving to Aguas Calientes is another great view. It looks like a lost town in the middle of nowhere. Since there are no cars it's an all pedestrian town so you can just get lost around.

Lima - to visit the city and get to know the culture.
3

Lima to visit the city and get to know the culture.

Lima - to visit the city and get to know the culture. - Parque de las aguas
Parque de las aguas
Lima - to visit the city and get to know the culture. - Parque de las aguas
Parque de las aguas
Lima - to visit the city and get to know the culture. - Trolley car
Trolley car

Next stop in our trip was the capital city of Lima, so we took our way back to Cusco and took a 24 hour bus ride to the city. You go through the so called Cordillera blanca (White mountains), it's always a great view and you better be prepared to be very cold too since they are very high mountains.

When arriving in Lima we got to a friend's house and took a rest of our journey so far. Later that day we went to Miraflores, one of the most touristic places in the city, there are parks, restaurants, hotels, casinos, malls, discos, theaters, a whole and vibrant city life. 

While there we also went to the beach and to "parque de las aguas" (waters park), a place full of different fountains and water shows.

Máncora District - Go to the beach and relax
4

Máncora District Go to the beach and relax

Máncora District - Go to the beach and relax - Sunset at the sea
Sunset at the sea
Máncora District - Go to the beach and relax - Sunset at the sea
Sunset at the sea
Máncora District - Go to the beach and relax - Sunset at the sea
Sunset at the sea

After a week of enjoying the city we continued our trip to last peruvian destination in Mancora, a beach town in northern Peru. We got ther in a 22 hour bus ride. It's an small town very prepared to receive visitors since there are several hostels in front of the sea, restaurants and shops. The sea in very blue in contrast with a dry desert-like beach. A cool place to go take a sunbath and relax.

Q & A

  • Anything go wrong during the trip?

    If traveling by bus take into account the very long distances so you travel prepared.
  • Tips you would give a friend?

    Enjoy peruvian cuisine from popular meals and street food to gourmet restaurants. Including cocktails. Also be very curious about the inca heritage shown in architecture, culture, and art, it makes this country very unique.
  • Booking details?

    If going to Machu Picchu try to buy tickets and solve your transportation as much as possible before getting there. It would be easier.

Lodging

  • In a hostel near the main square. A colonial house with very nice bedrooms and nice people to help you.

  • A hostel in "Aguas Calientes" there are several with different prices.

  • A friend's house near Miraflores

  • Hostel in front of the sea.